Argues that informal reading inventories (IRI) and the cloze procedure may provide inaccurate information and inhibit the progress of poor readers. Examines the concept of frustration level in both IRI and cloze testing. Posits that, in attempting to avoid frustrating students, educators fail to provide students with sufficient challenges.…

This response to Bashir and Scavuzzo (EC 602 669) suggests that their view that dyslexia is a chronic, pervasive condition is too limiting. An alternative view of dyslexia as an acute, interactive condition is proposed, and related implications for instructional curricula and reading achievement are offered. (Author/ DB)

Compared standardized achievement test performance of 62 second graders receiving instruction in 2 different reading curricula (Open Court and Houghton-Mifflin) to determine whether either curriculum generates different quantitative estimates of reading achievement. Found significant Curriculum X Test interaction, suggesting differences among…

Examines statistical models utilized in earlier studies and attempts to reanalyze the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) reading achievement data for England using a covariance structure model. Shows that, with an appropriate model, school variables do significantly account for reading achievement scores,…

Extends an earlier exploratory study of the effects of sentence-combining on reading achievement by updating the pool of studies and using meta-analysis as a vehicle for integration. Finds that only grade levels produced significant differences; sentence-combining had a greater effect at the elementary level than at the high school or college…

This paper presents a theoretical model illustrating L. Siegel's revisionist conceptualization of learning disabilities and then presents an alternative underachievement model. The paper argues that the alternative model applies standard regression procedures which would lead to a more appropriate definition of learning disabilities and applies…

This study of 335 students in grades 2-6 found that correlations between oral reading fluency and 2 reading achievement tests declined as grade level increased. Coefficients between performance on maze tasks and achievement tests did not show a similar decline from lower to upper grade levels. (Author/JDD)

Discusses problems with the 1991 Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs) in reading (given to six and seven year olds in England) and problems in the ways in which the results were interpreted. Suggests that SATs, designed to assess children's reading, may actually have obstructed teachers in their assessment of children. (RS)

Assesses the relative influences of education, social environment, and current activities on the practical literacy of young adults in the United States. Shows that both early experience and current activities powerfully influence young-adult literacy and that early environmental advantages yield subsequent advantages that lead to wide disparities…

Describes a reading recognition test called Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) that is designed to identify low literacy levels in patients. Notes that information thus obtained is useful in directing patient-physician communications and in promoting patient understanding of commonly used oral and written medical information. (SR)

Reading and math testing in inner London of 112 Black, 182 White children at end of primary school and 79 and 119 from this sample at age 11 found girls, especially Black girls, progressed more in reading in primary school; and boys progressed more in math initially, girls tended to catch up later, and Black boys fell behind. (SK)

Used confirmatory factor analysis to compare directly two competing models for interpreting Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children which have garnered theoretical and empirical support. Findings from 100 referred or low-achieving children supported model with separate Reading Achievement and Verbal Comprehension factors over model subsuming both…

Reviews recent theoretical advances in understanding orthographic codes and their relationship to phonological codes in reading acquisition. Discusses different ways in which orthographic skills have been conceptualized. Explores methodological issues in measuring orthographic skills. Stresses importance of multiple orthographic and oral language…

Focuses on the relationship between the development of segmental awareness and dyslexia. Finds that students in two training programs that taught the skills required to use phonemes performed as well as normal readers on phoneme segmentation tasks. Notes that the improvements were correlated in dictation but not in reading. (RS)

In 10 schools, reading levels of 11th-grade agriculture students were measured, and teachers estimated the readability of agricultural magazine articles. Teachers who ask students to read aloud and who provide reading assistance estimated reading level and readability more accurately, although neither group was very accurate. (SK)