The organization of social studies classroom communication and the format for presenting such communication were investigated. High school students (n=282) were assigned to groups determined by the possible combinations of lesson organization, also referred to as lesson commonality (high versus medium versus low), method of reading (oral versus…

Emergent reading levels are those levels a pupil can sustain under direct guidance or with mediation and support by the teacher. A major implication of the emergent reading level construct is that strategies for reading placement would need to be revised. A study was conducted to ascertain whether the emergent reading level concept is valid and…

This paper raises a series of questions about the nature of classroom instruction, in general, and about mathematics and reading instruction in the lower elementary school grades, in particular. It focuses on such aspects of the social organization of instruction as (1) the diversity of student populations, (2) the motivating force behind…

A variety of techniques for improving readers' analysis-by-synthesis abilities (rapid, efficient reading typical of highly skilled readers) are presented in this paper. The techniques discussed in the first part emphasize improving reading comprehension and include the following: (1) modifications of the cloze procedure (encouraging readers to use…

A study examined secondary teachers' present knowledge of the reading skills needed by their students. Subjects, 76 teachers of 15 different high school subjects, were asked (1) what specific reading skills they considered most necessary for their students to be able to read subject area materials, (2) what reading skills their students are best…

A study was conducted to determine the effects of word imagery on the retention of sight vocabulary. It was hypothesized that in an urban, low income area first grade class there would be no significant difference between the acquisition and retention rates of high imagery words and those of low imagery words. Using one group of high imagery words…

Presents ideas and guidelines to those who are involved in the difficult task of selecting a reading program for their school districts. Includes a checklist for evaluation of skill development. (Author/SDH)

A 15-item questionnaire, completed by 93 superintendents of Connecticut schools, focused on the identification, program design, instructional strategies, and support provided for early readers, their teachers, and their parents. Responses to each item are summarized statistically, and the general patterns that emerge in each of these areas are…

The recommendations in this document resulted from discussions by the Georgia Right to Read Advisory Council and outline the need for an effective, diagnostic-prescriptive teaching program in Georgia schools. Separate recommendations are made for each of the following areas: management design--initial steps that must be taken, in order to overcome…

The 1975 report "Toward a Literate Society," commissioned by the United States Commissioner of Education, displays the following weaknesses among others: in making recommendations the editors ignore or contradict information contained in the individual papers; many issues relevant to literacy are omitted; and the report virtually ignores…

Individualized, self-directed correction in elementary level reading instruction becomes a reality when pupils can work independently with materials that provide instruction and practice in the skills in which they are deficient and can check the accuracy of their own answers. Commercially prepared teacher-directed materials can be converted to…

This paper discusses the central theoretical aspects of the "Languaging in the Content Areas" (LICA) thesis, intended to provide postelementary reading with a sense of definition and purpose compatible with contemporary needs and conditions. The objective of the LICA thesis is not merely to teach students how to read critically what has been…

Intended for teachers of reading on the two-year college level, this journal discusses research on the effects of assignments on recognition memory and research on the Nelson-Denny Reading Test as a predictor of college grades in English and psychology. Articles also deal with methods for teaching developmental reading, a program for training and…

This booklet asserts that teacher retraining is directly linked to improving the teaching of reading and to basic education in general. It states that a successful in-service training program should have focus and vitality and should integrate a variety of training devices to meet the individual needs of the teachers. An effective program must…

Reading teachers should be flexible enough to adapt to varying situations that they encounter when they are asked to develop school-wide reading programs. Under ideal conditions, the faculty and administration are enthusiastic volunteers who accomplish the bulk of the reading program's objectives in their classrooms, allowing the reading…