Reading-related skills were tested in adults with and without reading disabilities (RD) or with profound hearing impairment (PHI). Both RD and PHI groups demonstrated low levels of phonological awareness but the RD group also exhibited deficits in verbal short-term memory, morphological awareness, speeded written naming, reading comprehension, and…

Studied effects of explicit reading comprehension instruction on low-performing ninth grade students' ability to comprehend short stories. Interactive instructional method was used to teach students a strategy based on story grammar for comprehending and analyzing complex short stories. (DG)

Presents a study designed to measure to what extent secondary school students' ability to guess the meanings of words in isolation is related to guessing words in context. Finds similarities between strategies used in isolated and contextual situations, but the students also made effective use of context. (MG)

Examination of the effect of a manual interference task on deaf and hearing college students' written free recall revealed that the task had a small adverse effect on deaf students' recall. Deaf students' reading levels were very strongly related to their level of word recall. (61 references) (Author/CB)

Offers a review of research conducted on reading comprehension, focusing on studies of the cognitive processes involved in the comprehension of the meaning of the microstructures and macrostructures of a text. (DMM)

Studies the comparative componential skill analysis across both reading proficiency levels and processing demand conditions. Finds that initial predictions were generally supported: significant variance contribution models were found for comprehension disabled readers; skill components were significant predictors; and sensitive eye movement…

An instructional strategy for teaching comprehension of literature was tested with seven high school students with learning disabilities. The strategy taught story grammar through use of short stories and the paradigm of modeling/guided practice/independent practice. Students showed improved story comprehension. (Author/JDD)

The study, involving 61 learning-disabled junior high students, compared the short-term and long-term effectiveness of definition instruction with interactive vocabulary strategies (semantic mapping, semantic feature analysis, and semantic/syntactic feature analysis). Students participating in the interactive strategies demonstrated greater…

Examines two readers' images of literary characters as a basis for studying text meaning construction. Finds greater variation than commonality between the text and readers, as well as between the readers. Suggests using dialogue and rereadings in instruction to aid in developing and monitoring text understanding. (SR)

Investigates whether intermediate-grade readers' vocabulary learning and comprehension is affected by displaying texts on a computer screen that provides the meaning of difficult words. Concludes that the results support and help explain previous studies that found increases in comprehension when computer-mediated texts were used to expand or…

Describes an experiment in "reflective teaching" used to develop a Directed Reading-Thinking Activities approach for improving reading comprehension with a group of third grade students. Includes an 11-item list of instructional materials and examples of student-developed materials. (FMW)

Examines the processing order between the comprehension of a text and the use of comprehended ideas for such thinking tasks as comparing, evaluating, and problem solving. Finds that readers with limited background knowledge read in a more linear fashion than those with extensive background, who read in a parallel manner. (RS)

Describes a method of generating a flow chart which indicates the multiple cause and effect relationships in literature and content area texts. Argues that this teaching strategy aids in the comprehension of difficult text. (RS)

Examines the nature of third graders' responses to the literature that is read aloud to them. Documents both individual and class development in response patterns over time. Finds responding to literature fostered comprehension, discussion, and writing skills, and promoted emotional involvement with and appreciation of literature. (MG)

Presents a compilation of strategies, exercises, and ideas that have been most helpful with students receiving private tutoring on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). (RS)