Details a reading program in which freshmen in a developmental studies program read books to children at a local public school. Reports that the students engaged the children in pre-determined learning activities and reflected on their own, as well as others', reading processes. Discusses theoretical underpinnings of this model. (Contains 19…

Reviews literature on family influence on children's acquisition of literacy. Discusses the ambivalence regarding family literacy theories and the lack of family literacy theoretical frameworks. Identifies types of family involvement and effective literacy strategies for families. Finds that most studies suggest that family literacy contributes to…

Reports on what factors teachers say have influenced their beliefs and instructional practices concerning reading. Finds that both subskills-oriented and whole language teachers identified their classroom experiences as teachers as the single greatest influence on their beliefs about reading and reading instruction. (RS)

Investigates whether prereaders who knew all their letters are better at forming logographic access routes than letter-sound access routes into memory from words read by sight. Concludes that prereaders become capable of forming letter-sound access routes when they learn letters well enough to take advantage of the phonetic cues the letters…

Explores the nature of the picture story book event from a semiotic perspective. Describes a classroom event in which a picture story book was constructed during teacher-student-text interaction in a second grade classroom using involving oral reading and discussion, interpretations of the main character's traits, letters to the author, and…

Examines the relationship between reading ability and home environment to determine what variables most accurately predict reading achievement. Finds that the father's education level, the amount of reading done to children before school entry, and the variety of print materials read in the home are highly significant predictors of reading…

Investigates the effectiveness of the Char-L Intensive Phonics program within a six-week summer tutorial program for students with learning problems. Finds significant gains in reading for most students and improved word attack skills for all students completing academic tasks requiring reading. (KEH)

Investigates whether frequent small group readings in school increases comprehension scores and the number and complexity of comments and questions from children of low socioeconomic status. Finds that story reading in small groups increases comprehension and the number and complexity of questions and comments. (RS)

Assesses the utility and effectiveness of three interactive computer programs and associated print materials in instructing and modeling for undergraduates how to comprehend and reconceptualize scientific textbook material. Finds that "how to" reading strategies can be taught via computer and transferred to new material. (RS)

Investigates the effects of verbal and pictorial advance organizers on science text comprehension of children with high or low prior knowledge. Finds that verbal advance organizers assist text comprehension of children with strong prior knowledge, while the addition of a pictorial component aids comprehension of children with weak prior knowledge.…

Examines the effects on comprehension of instructing native English speakers in the organization of a scientific journal article written in French. Finds a significant main effect for instruction in text structure when the text was in canonical experimental report order and no significant difference when the text order was scrambled. (RS)

Reviews research and anecdotal accounts which present instructional techniques and which suggest that the quality of instruction, quality of time, and quality of books are significant factors in ensuring that story reading is a true literacy event. Argues that consistent story readings facilitate the acquisition of the reading process. (RS)

Examines the role of the teacher in enhancing students' reading comprehension. Finds that the teacher is a more significant factor in the comprehension of lengthy natural texts than is the ease of the text itself. (MG)

Synthesizes critical thinking research in four areas--reading, writing, group interactions, and speaking--and discusses the implications of those studies for library information science research. The potential for employing critical thinking strategies in bibliographic instruction and the need for library science educators to initiate their own…

Examines the effect of a variety of picture-text conditions on third and fifth grade average readers' comprehension. Concludes that the advantage of presenting children of normal reading ability with illustrated text is small and primarily dependent on the placement of illustrations adjacent to related textual materials. (RS)