Examines the various forms of cloze used to test reading comprehension and reviews norms for validity for structuring tests. Offers a set of comparisons of cloze with ordinary reading situations that reveal their similarities and differences. (HTH)

Investigates whether first-grade students' performance on an 18-word spelling test administered in the first month of school is a good predictor of reading achievement at the end of first grade. A total of 75 students from four classrooms were tested three times during the school year. (RH)

Describes a relatively easy and empirically evolved formula that can predict the reading achievement of low IQ children. (HOD)

The research on literacy is ready for a better balancing of the theoretical with the problem oriented, particularly for those children, young people, and adults who are having difficulty with literacy: the poor, minorities, dyslexics, bilinguals, and high school and college students who are poorly prepared by their earlier experience. (CMG)

A principal motivated students to read independently by challenging them to select their group prize if they could attain a school goal by reading 20 minutes daily at home. Gains in student morale and reading achievement are attributed to the plan. (MJL)

Reported is a study exploring the hypothesis that gains in reading achievement result when teachers assess the students and predict improvements in reading ability. (GW)

Describes a computer formula which measures readability according to how well high school seniors comprehend reading passages. (RB)

Test scores are among the many ways to find out how well a child is doing in school. Test scores allow parents to compare their child's performance with that of other students in the same grade at the school and with other students across North Carolina. However, test scores should always be considered along with all other available information…

During the 2001-2002 school year, the Read to Achieve Grant program was successfully implemented in 553 schools throughout Colorado. All funded schools were held accountable for reaching the specific reading achievement goals outlined in the statute establishing the program in order to be recommended for second year funding. The Read to Achieve…

The change in teachers' attitudes to the teaching of phonics has been one of the significant gains brought about by the National Literacy Strategy. Nevertheless, while phonics is now taught in a high percentage of lessons, there is still much further to go before the quality of the teaching is good enough to have the impact which is needed on…

This report examines the first 2 years of the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI), whose goal is 100% literacy for all Alabama's public school children using a balanced approach to reading instruction. It includes results from the external evaluation team, examples of changes in teaching practices and student behaviors, as well as the voices of…

Mentors need to be carefully selected to assist new teachers in making a successful transition from student teaching to being fully licensed and certified to teach in the regular classroom. During the school year, the mentor may help the new teacher in a variety of ways--one is to build confidence in the new teacher for teaching and another is to…

The 1998 "High Schools That Work" (HSTW) assessment contains good and bad news about the reading performance of the 23,900 career-bound students who participated in the assessment at experienced HSTW sites. Based on these findings, this research brief answers the following three questions: What progress are HSTW's sites making in…

The biggest campaign ever to improve the reading achievement of America's children is going on right now. The United States Department of Education, the National Institute for Literacy, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services--all members of the Partnership for…

This report describes a project for improving reading comprehension through the use of multiple intelligences. The action research took place from September 2001 to January 2002. The targeted population consisted of fourth grade students living in two suburbs of a major metropolitan city. The two communities range from low income to upper middle…