Examines whether some of the problems that average and below average readers have in comprehending expository texts stem primarily from lack of familiarity with conjunctions or a tendency to ignore them. Reports that all reading levels benefited from the highlighting of explicit conjunctions. (MM)

Examines the effects of prior knowledge and oral reading accuracy on miscues and comprehension of third-grade average readers who read expository passages orally. Finds that children with high prior knowledge made fewer miscues which resulted in meaning loss, and that their miscues were graphically less similar to the text word. (MM)

Explores the effects of question task conditions on reading comprehension and metacomprehension for proficient readers, disabled readers, and deaf readers. Finds several significant interaction effects for both demonstrated and perceived comprehension performance in selected-response and constructed-response question tasks under both lookback and…

Evaluates the relative importance of graphic and contextual information in word recognition, as well as the relative importance of several specific sources of contextual information (lexical, semantic, syntactic, discourse) among second-, fourth-, and sixth-grade students. Finds that students use more graphic than contextual information at target…

Tests a theoretical model of hemispheric brain activity which attempts to explain the relation between visual ability and verbal written compositions. Concludes that the model which indicates that synthesis is a right brain activity and that visualizing activity can assist synthesis is supported for right-handed students. (RS)

Investigates the influence of sentence context on the processing of concrete and abstract words. Results indicate that abstract words take longer than concrete to comprehend and to judge their meaningfulness when they occur in a neutral context. Concludes that this evidence supports the context availability model. (RS)

Examines syntactic, semantic and grapho-phonic miscues made by early readers of varying ability. Finds that (1) passage complexity affects use of syntactic and semantic cues; (2) high and above average students' miscue quality deteriorates as text complexity increases; and (3) higher word recognition scores relate to effective use of grapho-phonic…

Examines the differences between divided and alternating patterns of comparison-contrast text structures and reports on the effects these patterns exert on the performance of college developmental readers. Concludes that the type of comparison-contrast structure does not significantly effect comprehension and that, overall, developmental readers…

Describes a two-year research project in Portugal for the purpose of helping teachers cope with the problem of teaching Cape Verdian children (nonnative speakers of Portuguese) to read Portuguese successfully. (SR)

Concludes that poor readers' word identification skills can be improved by practice in phonological decoding through pseudoword reading, provided that training is carried out under conditions of limited exposure duration. Suggests that training without time pressure has negative effects. (RS)

Twelfth-grade science students (n=91) were asked to read five popular reports of science to ascertain their ability to understand the scientific information presented. Results indicated that only half of the students accurately understood the scientific status and role of statements when the understanding required contextualized interpretation on…

Outlines a strategy for resolving disputes between the whole language and phonics camps in reading instruction. Reviews research on the role of context in word recognition, the process of reading acquisition, and analytic versus holistic approaches to reading acquisition. Suggests that the way is clear for whole language advocates to reconstitute…

Analyzes observational research in traditional remedial classrooms and published Reading Recovery procedures to formulate 15 guidelines for evaluating and improving any remedial reading program. Discusses the extent to which traditional remedial programs and Reading Recovery programs follow exemplary teaching practices known to be associated with…

Finds that while both teachers at times were able to provide shared reading experiences that reflected the developmental principles underlying the big books concepts, in both classrooms, practices consistent with a skills/transmission model of literacy acquisition predominated. (RS)

Describes a case study in which four adult female students of English as a Second Language participated in a free reading program for several months, reading books in the Sweet Valley series written for children and youth. Shows that all four women became enthusiastic readers and that their ability to speak and understand everyday English improved…