Presents a short historical and sociological analysis of reading in the Soviet Union from the beginning of the twentieth century to perestroika. Discusses some sociocultural problems associated with reading, including the prevailing social, economic and political crises in all spheres of life, particularly the cultural. (RS)

Presents a review of the resources, conclusions, and limitations of the data on trends in reading ability in America between 1840 and 1990. Shows that, contrary to popular belief, today's students read better than yesterday's. (SR)

A sample of 74 Finnish children with mild learning disabilities and 57 controls were grouped into 5 subgroups (normal, general language, visuo-motor, general deficiency, naming) and followed from the third to the sixth grade. Results indicated that neuropsychological profiles were generally maintained, with changes related to progress in reading.…

The Peabody Individual Achievement Test-Revised offers a standardized assessment of an individual's level of academic performance in reading, mathematics, spelling, written expression, and encyclopedic knowledge. The test is designed as a screening device for students ages 5-18. This paper describes administration, summation of data,…

The Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests assess reading ability in individuals from kindergarten to adulthood. The test battery is designed for use in clinical assessment and diagnosis, program planning, student selection and placement, appraisal of student progress, and other uses. This paper describes the test battery's administration, scoring,…

This article discusses the relation between instruction prescribed by standardized commercial curricula and reading achievement of mainstreamed students with learning disabilities. An instructional template for use with these curricula is described and its results examined. Limitations of generic instructional procedures adapting mainstream…

Evaluates a computerized reading management and enrichment program's effects on college-bound ninth graders attending Cherryville Junior-Senior High School, in Gaston County, North Carolina. When total reading scores were compared on third-, sixth-, and eighth-grade California Achievement Tests, the Cherryville students (five-year program…

Examines the relationship between dyslexia and eye movement control in Spanish-speaking children. Finds no significant differences between dyslexic and retarded readers in their eye movements during reading tasks only; no significant differences between retarded and normal readers in ocular tracking but differences between each of the groups and…

Discusses how a fifth-grade teacher gained a new perspective on the reading habits of a reluctant male reader identified as having a specific learning disability in language. Notes that the student became enchanted with nonfiction, forcing the teacher to reevaluate her value system that placed reading, writing, and speaking above all other forms…

Dyslexic readers (n=42) were contrasted with 56 adequate readers with attention deficit disorder and 21 poor readers. The children, ages 7-12, were studied in terms of simple and complex phonological processing, speech rate, continuous naming speed, running memory span, serial memory span, and mental addition. Evidence suggested that the two poor…

Compares readability levels of the recreational reading books selected by fourth graders. Finds that the students chose books from their school libraries and read (or chose not to read) books on all their reading levels. Concludes that students read books related to their interests, regardless of the book's readability or the student's reading…

Investigates effects of teaching text-comprehension strategies to children with decoding and reading-comprehension problems and with a poor or normal listening ability. Finds no differential program effects for the two listening levels. Finds no stable evidence of transfer of comprehension strategy-training to standardized general listening and…

Explores numerous procedures to evaluate a pupil's reading achievement. Discusses different evaluation methods including criterion-referenced tests; contextualism in reading; discussions in the reading curriculum; conferences with pupils; and using portfolios. Concludes that the best objectives, learning opportunities, appraisal procedures, and an…

Examined the Success for All Program's effects on elementary students' reading achievement. A comparison between two SFA schools and two matched-control schools showed that African-American students in SFA schools performed comparably to their White counterparts in all four schools and significantly outperformed noncontrol minority students. (47…

Examined contribution of home reading practices to school reading achievement of European American and Hispanic second graders. Found that how often and with whom children read, and child's initiation of reading were related to reading achievement. Relations were more pronounced for European American boys and Hispanic girls, less so for Hispanic…