Describes an investigation into whether second language learners use knowledge of their first language to comprehend and produce idioms in the second language. Results showed identical idioms were the easiest to comprehend, similar idioms were comprehended almost as well, and different idioms were the most difficult to comprehend and produce.…

Using Vygotsky's theory of development, explores the significance of storytelling and dramatization activities on the intellectual and emotional development of preschool children. Results indicate that dramatizing of children's stories enhances the storytelling of preschool children and, thus, influences their literacy development. (DST)

The study sought to ascertain whether four structurally different instructional strategies would have statistically significant differential effects on the science and reading-language skills of seventh-grade students. The findings indicated that the three experimental strategies and one control method did have differential effects on the…

Suggests using the Hispanic literature of the American Southwest to teach Spanish in elementary school. Describes specific classroom practices using, as an example, a specific short story as well as games and activities that can be used in conjunction with the story. (SED)

Describes an experiment whose principal aim was to examine how a classroom silent period, devoted almost exclusively to aural comprehension, operates. In the case of the French adult learners of English involved in this study, 60 hours proved to be a satisfactory period. (SED)

Describes two experiments comparing how children evaluate three types of uninformative messages (ambiguous, incomplete, inconsistent) and whether and why the speaker's age affects the evaluation of each. (HOD)

Advocates the use of journal writing in reaction to readings to help make reading a more significant part of students' lives. (SRT)

Presents the rationale behind a model for the use of the computer in the development of reading comprehension. Basic assumptions concerning reading are delineated. The model has three basic components: intake (text processing and text comprehension), personalization, and extension. (Author/SED)

This study was conducted to address gaps in the research on gender characteristics of reading materials. Pupils in grades 4, 7, and 11 read four narratives, one for each of four sex role conditions. Neither comprehension nor interest was diminished by the use of sex-fair materials. (Author/LMO)

Describes the construction of a chemistry laboratory. Also discusses the place of science in school technology teaching, a study of students' understanding of simple quantitative relationships in chemistry, and the objectives of school physics. (JN)

The speed and accuracy of skilled and less skilled first-grade readers were assessed in the fall and spring. Children read random lists of words and coherent paragraphs. Poor decoding skills, rather than an inability to use content to facilitate word recognition, caused the poor performance of less skilled readers. (Author/BS)

Advocates the use of incidental vocabulary learning to assist students in vocabulary expansion and reading comprehension. Addresses the issues of the number of words students would have to know to make substantial gains and what type of word knowledge is necessary to facilitate reading comprehension. (ML)

Describes a schema-theoretic view of how analogies enhance students' prior knowledge; reviews some of the recent studies using analogies to assist students' comprehension of science text; and illustrates the use of an analogical study guide in biology. (HOD)

Provides suggestions for teaching multisyllable words to remedial readers, incorporating romantic fiction into a reading program, and using content writing activities in a biology class. (HOD)

Describes a teacher modeling technique whose purpose is to form a comprehensive approach to modeling metacognitive strategies through direct explanation of the reading comprehension process. (HOD)