Presents a detailed design for a content-based unit, the focus of which is the film "Caravaggio." The unit also includes readings in art history and film and is part of a specialized English for academic purposes/English for special purposes reading comprehension course for first-year students majoring in art history and in a…

This case study addressed the meanings two preservice teachers ascribed to four expert strategies used in reciprocal teaching (questioning, summarizing, clarifying, and predicting) and four learning principles upon which reciprocal teaching is built (cognitive apprenticeship, scaffolding, zone of proximal development, and proleptic teaching).…

Presents an analysis of the relationship between third language reading comprehension and its constituent skills for bilingual Dutch students for whom English is a third language (L3), compared to monolingual Dutch students for whom English is a second language (L2). (Author/VWL)

Focuses on the best methods and activities for promoting competence in the reading of a foreign language, especially French. The article maintains that French language teaching has a pioneer role in advancing second-language reading strategies and suggests activities that can supplement instruction in this field. (Author/CK)

Focuses on the merit of extensive reading in English as a tool for advancing the reading comprehension of non-English-speaking students. The article emphasizes that students who read more will eventually surpass their classmates who have not developed the reading habit. (four references) (Author/CK)

Describes different methods of evaluating the reading and language skills of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Student activities include creating a slide show to illustrate a story, decorating paper bags with key scenes and placing items related to the story inside, and creating book jackets. (CR)

Notes that beginning foreign language learner-readers lack linguistic and cultural knowledge assumed in foreign language literary texts, gaps often resulting in possible "mismatches" between the readers' actual cognizance of linguistic and cultural norms and the level of understanding assumed in the foreign text. (40 references) (Author/CK)

Presents strategies for reading visual images. Illustrates how visual systems inform the process of listening for the meaning of foreign language words and phrases. Suggestions are provided on how these strategies apply to a larger curricular program that integrates media into its overall learning objectives. (35 references) (Author/CK)

Separates the effects of prior knowledge and topic interest on second language reading comprehension. English-as-a-Second-Language students in an English for academic purposes program read passages and took multiple-choice comprehension tests on topics for which they had all four possible combinations of high and low topic interest and high and…

This follow-up study of a classroom experiment with university English-as-a-Second-Language students that demonstrated incidental acquisition of new lexical knowledge through the reading of thematically-related texts explores how vocabulary knowledge may be acquired as a by-product of reading for comprehension. Findings are interpreted in terms of…

Describes a staff development effort at a small, predominantly Native American elementary school. Staff developers attempted to improve teachers' ability work on reading comprehension, but their development methods were unsuccessful. They realized that they had to match their work with teachers with the school culture and to listen to the teachers…

Interviews Michelle Winslow, a fourth-grade teacher, and Pat Previte, a sixth-grade teacher in Massachusetts. Explains that the two teachers have a common vision for all students: one of engaged, strategic readers who can apply reading skills across all areas of the curriculum. Notes that the pair has transformed their reading instruction by…

Presents a qualitative analysis of a transcript of a critical-thinking reading lesson designed for sixth grade students. The analysis illustrates the relationship between critical thinking and reading comprehension and demonstrates that critical thinking can be promoted in everyday classroom instruction using regular classroom materials. (JD)

Reports the impact of metadiscourse on sixth grade students' learning and attitudes. Finds that low-comfort students learn more when informational metadiscourse is presented in interpersonal voice and high-comfort students learn less. Finds that students' attitudes are more tolerant of opinions if they read just one type of metadiscourse. (KEH)

Examines how cultural schemata influence American and Palauan students' reported strategies and their reading comprehension. Finds that students predominantly use processing strategies categorized under awareness development and intrasentential ties establishment for culturally unfamiliar passages. Finds that students use intersentential ties and…