Discusses various issues surrounding inability of individualized reading approach to improve reading ability of poor readers at elementary level. Suggested reasons for failure include school environment, peer pressure, self-concept, and individual reading difficulties. Teachers' role in addressing reading failure in children is considered. (DST)

This overview of Program READER, a self-administered reading assessment for college students, discusses the software, selection of readings, construction and validation of questions, and suggestions for future use. The program is designed to give students immediate feedback about reading skill and collect demographic data for the college. (MBR)

Evaluated a school district's psychoeducational screening program to determine the best predictors of reading recognition scores, math scores, and investigated the merit of using scores from a group-administered achievement test as predictors. Results suggest California Achievement Test scores combined with intelligence tests may be useful…

Reports on a study during which intermediate level students were exposed to three auditory backgrounds while reading (no music, classical music, and rock music), and their subsequent comprehension performance was measured. Concludes that the auditory background during reading may affect comprehension and that, for most students, rock music should…

Reading, self-esteem, auding, and verbal language levels were measured for 132 youths and adults entering a tutorial program. Results showed that the subjects had low levels of auding, verbal language, and reading, but self-esteem was not significantly related to the other variables. Auding and verbal language skills were shown to be important to…

Demonstrates that college freshmen instructed in a noncontent related reading laboratory made significant gains in both vocabulary and total reading achievement over a matched control group. (FL)

Investigates the relationships among the speeds of word encoding, lexical access, semantic memory access processes, and reading achievement of college undergraduate students. Concludes that reading deficiencies may occur as a result of either slow semantic memory access speeds or a lack of organization of information in semantic memory. (FL)

This report presents the results of NAEP long-term trend assessments in reading and mathematics, which were most recently administered in 2004 to students ages 9, 13, and 17. Because the assessments have been administered at different times in the 35-year history of NAEP, they make it possible to chart educational progress since 1971 in reading…

This report describes long-term trends in 9-, 13- and 17-year-olds' achievement in reading and mathematics during the last three decades. In 2004, a representative sample of more than 11,000 students in public and private schools at each of the three ages participated in the long-term trend assessment in each subject area. These findings provide a…

This What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) report examines the effect of "Instructional Conversations and Literature Logs" used in combination. The goal of "Instructional Conversations" is to help English language learners develop reading comprehension ability along with English language proficiency. "Instructional…

This is the second and final report for MDRC's evaluation of the Bay Area School Reform Collaborative (BASRC), a grant-making and support organization in San Francisco, California. BASRC is dedicated to improving student achievement in public schools and narrowing achievement gaps among different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. BASRC…

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact self-esteem had on reading with children of diverse reading levels using a modified reading program. Three students were targeted in the study. For the purpose of identification for this research, targeted students were assigned pseudonyms. The identities were completely anonymous to everyone…

This issue describes the state of reading and literacy in the United States from kindergarten into adulthood. Data from a number of sources make it possible to draw a picture of literacy at all educational levels. The most striking and troubling observation is the wide differentials between racial and ethnic groups, beginning in kindergarten and…

This comprehensive resource can be used by teachers to align instruction with current standards and to give students the best possible foundation for reading achievement. Organized around the five essential components of reading instruction identified in the report of the U.S. National Reading Panel, this book: (1) Lays the groundwork for creating…

This lucidly written book provides a concise conceptual map to guide preservice and inservice teachers through the often-confusing terrain of reading instruction. Distinguished researcher and former classroom teacher Mark Sadoski describes the essential concepts and methods of the field and summarizes key research findings and historical…