Notes that experimental subjects were trained to segment and spell phonetically regular words, whereas controls were trained to read letters, words, and text. Finds that trained subjects made significant gains and were better than controls at posttest in measures of reading nonsense words, real words, and oral passages, but not of silent reading…

Describes an activity (the first assignment in a graduate reading course for teachers) which provides teachers with the opportunity to develop awareness of their own reading processes by thinking aloud about the strategies they use when reading texts that are difficult for them. (SR)

Reports on a study undertaken to determine whether or not the characteristics of effective inservice could be documented in an experimental study to have an effect on use of process-oriented vocabulary and reading comprehension strategies in the classroom. Finds that the study confirms initial expectations about the qualities of effective staff…

Analyzes synthesis essays of graduate students for the importance and origin of information and for the quality of key rhetorical moves. Confirms the interrelatedness of comprehension and composing processes and illustrates how writers, with varying levels of topic familiarity, use both their knowledge of disciplinary topics and their experience…

A study explored the impact of a regular, sustained self-selected reading program on four reading skills measured by a criterion-referenced reading skill test. Fourth graders received reading only, reading/skill instruction, or skill instruction only. Results indicated significant pre- to posttest growth for all groups for all the reading…

Explores the effects of marginal glossing on college students' comprehension and retention. Describes what a marginal gloss is and how it might work. Concludes that although marginal glossing is a frequently recommended study strategy, its usefulness may be limited. (SR)

Describes two studies on the comprehension of pharmaceutical text containing pictorial and written instructions by mothers in rural Kenya. Comprehension of printed instructions was compared with interpretation of illustrations, propositional analysis used in the study is explained, recall protocols are examined, and implications of writing…

Argues that student comprehension difficulties are often diagnosed as reading problems, even though the problem extends to other learning skills. Considers the issue of comprehension in the context of reading, and examines aspects of the issue that extend to teacher communications. Suggest ways to help students understand social studies material.…

Twenty grade 5 and 6 students with reading disabilities and 40 average readers were taught to use a self-questioning strategy for the identification of main ideas under either a standard instruction or a generalization induction condition. Results indicated the self-instructional training was equally effective under both conditions and performance…

Investigates the comparative effects of three different types of study guides--interlocking, noninterlocking, and teacher constructed--on comprehension and postreading oral discussion. Finds that study guides are worthwhile instructional aids; noninterlocking and interlocking study guides produced higher comprehension test scores; and the…

The ability of foreign language readers to comprehend 3 different story structures of a medieval French folk tale, "Le Bisclavret," was investigated among 120 university language students. Findings suggest that both story organization and amount of second-language study influence recall. Recommendations for classroom instruction are suggested.…

Measures native skilled, nonnative skilled, and nonnative nonskilled English readers' word reading times. Finds reading times of native skilled readers were independent of word length, word location, and grammatical word classification compared to nonnative readers. Finds that native readers' reading time was different from nonnative skilled…

Implemented structured cooperative-learning strategy for reading, Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC), in nine third-grade classes (n=198) and compared with nine control group classes (n=194). CIRC group outgained controls on Reading Comprehension as measured by California Achievement Test. When groups were divided into reading…

Describes an activity which uses poetry to help students differentiate between literal and critical comprehension and to focus on topics, main ideas, inferences, paraphrasing, and writing in response to text. (SR)

Investigates the relationship between the reading comprehension and information processing strategies of fluent oral readers of Oriya (a language spoken in India) orthography. Notes that Oriya has some significant differences from English orthography. Finds that good comprehenders were relatively more intelligent that the poor comprehenders and…