Created with the input of hundreds of early literacy teachers, this book compiles 7,500 caption books, natural language texts, series books, and children's literature for kindergarten through grade 3. The books are organized by both title and level of difficulty. Word counts are provided for most books to assist teachers as they take running…

This report shares the initial Phase 1 results from a quantitative and qualitative study examining the feasibility and desirability of offering Minnesota students with limited English proficiency (LEP) a reading test with bilingual test items and answer choices. In considering the use of a native language translation accommodation to the Minnesota…

Starting with the 1997-1998 school year, the Direct Instruction Reading/Language Arts Program was implemented in three elementary schools in a northwest urban public school system as a 3-year pilot study to improve the academic performance of at-risk students. Direct Instruction (DI) is aimed at providing effective learning for low-achieving…

Designed to give primary school teachers some of the tools necessary to prepare their students to do well on the performance based Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), this booklet provides released items from the 1997-1998 MAP Communication Arts test. MAP consists of three reading passages followed by constructed-response items, a formal writing…

Designed to give middle school teachers some of the tools necessary to prepare their students to do well on the performance based Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), this booklet provides released items from the 1997-1998 MAP Communication Arts test. MAP consists of three reading passages followed by constructed-response items, a formal writing…

Designed to give high school teachers some of the tools necessary to prepare their students to do well on the performance based Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), this booklet provides released items from the 1997-1998 MAP Communication Arts test. MAP consists of three reading passages followed by constructed-response items, a formal writing…

This document indicates levels of understanding and ability that all students are expected to achieve as competent readers and writers. It assists Kansas teachers in planning local curricula and assessments for reading, writing, and literature and serves as the basis for the development of state assessments in reading and writing. It presents…

A study examined how culturally diverse students increased their reading/writing performance through a structured volunteer tutoring program. Two university professors developed volunteer tutoring programs at six elementary schools in southeastern Michigan. Program objectives were to: (1) increase the reading performance of culturally diverse…

This study examined the experiences of 15 elementary schools in Washington state demonstrating relatively slow improvement on the reading and mathematics sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. Since the passage of educational reform legislation in 1993, Washington has undertaken a systematic overhaul of its K-12 public school…

This paper examines several topics as they relate to the education of practicing reading teachers, including: the state of reading achievement in the United States; teacher thinking and professional development; the history of professional development for teachers of reading; professional development policies and guidelines recommended by various…

Reading Recovery is an early intervention program for first grade designed to reduce reading failure. It is based on the assumption that intensive, high-quality help during the early years of schooling is the most productive investment of resources. Individually tailored intervention procedures are implemented for children identified by classroom…

First Steps is a program instituted by the Western Australia Ministry of Education to improve the literacy and numeracy of primary school students, particularly those at risk of academic failure. First Steps is organized around reading, writing, spelling, and oral language; children's skills are organized along developmental continua. These…

This paper argues that the standards for reporting and interpreting educational research should be raised. It suggests the need for a higher standard is urgent in fields such as beginning reading, in which public interest is intense, because findings can quickly become distorted or misinterpreted and enshrined through misinformed policy decisions.…

This program was developed and implemented to improve the reading achievement of low-performing third-grade students through the use of language arts skills and strategies. The objectives for the program were for 80% of the target group to improve their identification of sight words; demonstrate positive reading attitudes; increase pleasure…

Reading is an important part of the modern child's environment. The number of things one must know about in order to understand this world has been enormously increased. No one can hope to learn of them all through first-hand experiences. Printed matter, which preserves and facilitates widespread distribution of knowledge, becomes a necessity. To…