The ability of 78 disabled and nondisabled second, third, and fourth graders to discriminate between syllables that were vowels and syllables beginning with liquid and plosive consonants was studied. The results suggest that children with reading disabilities experience a deficit in processing phonemic information within syllables. (SLD)

Neglected, or physically or sexually abused, children performed poorer on standardized tests, received lower grades, were more likely to repeat a grade and had more discipline referrals than nonmaltreated children. Among maltreated children, neglected children showed the poorest academic performance, and physically abused children had the most…

Examines the kinds of instruction that foster student engagement with literature and the effects of such instruction on achievement. Describes the manifestations of procedural and substantive forms of engagements, explains how they relate differently to student outcomes, and offers some empirical propositions using data on literature instruction…

Longitudinal data from 104 children administered the Slingerland Procedures in kindergarten and achievement tests in later grades found significant relationships between Slingerland measures and reading outcomes, with prediction varying across grades and according to the reading measure used. Listening contributed to reading comprehension but not…

Thirty-four children (ages 5-16) born to alcoholic mothers were assessed on measures of intelligence, reading, receptive vocabulary, memory for sentences, visual memory, and visual-motor integration. The children were found to be least deficient on intellectual measures and most deficient on memory for sentences and silent and oral readings.…

To determine whether the Reading Recovery (RR) program would be more effective if systematic instruction in phonological-recoding skills were incorporated, first-grade at-risk readers were divided into 3 groups of 32 children each (modified RR, standard RR, and standard intervention groups). Reading progress was strongly related to…

Examines the reading attainment levels of a group of elementary students who had either experienced nursery, day care, or no preschool provision outside the home. Compares pupils' scores on reading tests over four years. Although the results were inconclusive they suggest positive reading attainment outcomes related to preschool experience. (MJP)

Describes how one teacher researcher helped a class of low-achieving African American eighth graders dramatically increase their reading achievement. Discusses barriers to reading and creating a supportive classroom community. Describes how the author combined explicit skill and strategy development using a framework to address fluency, word…

Describes the use of the Northwest Evaluation Association's Achievement Level Test for Reading as an assessment tool in an elementary school to measure student progress in reading. Discusses interpreting scores across grade levels; computerized versions; linking test items to new curriculum; reducing reading class size; and the role of technology.…

Looping, the practice of moving teachers to the next grade level along with their students, is enjoying a comeback. European and U.S. Waldorf schools have used this approach since the early 1900s. The extra time gained in learning translates into improved student achievement, discipline, and participation. (Contains 10 references.) (MLH)

National data were used to study the longitudinal effects of variables on choice of Holland social type college majors versus other majors for 524 Asian/Pacific Islanders, 509 Hispanics, 507 Blacks, and 568 Whites. Effects of mathematics scores and gender were fairly consistent across racial/ethnic groups, and effects of reading scores and…

Thirty secondary students with learning disabilities were given laptop computers and taught computer-based study strategies to test the efficacy of using technology to support students with learning disabilities. Results showed that students with high intelligence and reading test scores were more willing to adopt computer-based study strategies.…

This article considers the research evidence from United Kingdom evaluations of integrated learning systems, systems that include extensive computer-based courseware plus management software. It discusses the value of these systems for pupils with learning difficulties and focuses on their effects on the reading attainments of pupils who are lower…

Compares two approaches for preparing students to take standardized reading tests. Discusses study that used a pretest-posttest design with reading-comprehension passages and questions to assess improvement. Suggests that measurable gain in short-term developmental programs may require focusing on a more modest number of teaching objectives,…

Discusses instructional psychology and teaching reading. Focuses on Early Reading Research (ERR), a 2-year study following a sample of 433 children as they progress from reception into Year 1. Reports on the first year of research when children were in either six experimental classes (implementing ERR reading framework) or six comparison schools.…