Reports on a study that investigated what constitutes metaphor and simile for sixth- and eighth-grade children. Discusses the implications of the findings for reading and language arts curriculum development and instruction. (FL)

Reports on several studies that examined the use of newspapers in classrooms. Cites research supporting the conclusions that newspaper training programs improved teacher attitudes toward using newspapers in the classroom and newspaper use influenced students' reading attitudes, reading interests, reading achievement, and classroom verbal…

An auditory perceptual training program for students, aged seven through nine, with auditory or reading problems, was evaluated. Although short-term auditory improvements were observed, there was no impact on reading achievement. (Author/MH)

Whether text comprehension strategies could be taught to children with poor decoding and reading skills was studied with 428 fourth graders (poor readers) and 167 students from schools for the learning disabled. Clear benefits of training were apparent at posttesting, but maintenance test performance did not show prolonged benefits, suggesting a…

Examined the validity of the pragmatic approach to test difficulty put forward by Child (1987). This study investigated whether the Child discourse-type hierarchy predicts text difficulty for second-language readers. Results suggested that this hierarchy may provide a sound basis for developing foreign-language tests when it is applied by trained…

Describes the sophisticated reading strategies of two eight-year-old boys. Notes that the boys were thought to be about average or below average in reading achievement. Concludes that the standardized measures used to judge their reading achievement penalized the boys for their working class backgrounds and for their everyday use of Caribbean…

Examined children's performance in the first two years of school so as to determine effects of parent configuration on reading and math scores. Found that children whose families had more economic resources and whose parents had higher expectations for their school performance consistently outperformed other children in reading and math. (RJM)

The Whole School Approach to Early Literacy Development program, implemented in high-needs schools in Calgary (Alberta), focused on changing school culture so that teachers, administrators, parents, specialists, and students cooperated to meet high expectations for student achievement. Participating schools committed to six requirements that…

Effectiveness of a classwide peer tutoring program was studied for low achievers with and without learning disabilities and average achievers in 20 elementary school intervention classes and 20 control classes. All types of learners in peer tutoring classrooms demonstrated greater reading progress regardless of which of three measures was used.…

This study examined the associations between the use of after-school care arrangements and adolescent competencies in 60 young Canadian adolescents. Findings revealed that, compared to those not participating, early adolescents participating in after-school care between 5 and 13 years obtained higher academic and social competency scores based on…

Details evaluation of effectiveness of the Montessori Movable Alphabet in successive exercises to build preschoolers' knowledge about written English. Describes preliminary activities, movable alphabet introduction, dictation, expanded usage, object/picture use, vowel addition, vowel combination, blends, phonetic phrases, H-digraphs, long vowels,…

Compared to classmates with low and average reading achievement, 32 intermediate-grade students with learning disabilities (LD) had lower peer acceptance, lower feelings of self-worth, fewer positive nominations, and more negative self-perceptions regarding social acceptance. Different patterns of social and behavioral functioning distinguished LD…

Examines the effectiveness of a skill-based individualized reading program on the reading achievement of adults and adolescents of low reading ability. Finds a significant improvement in reading skills. Notes that the outcome was replicated in two separate experiments across two different populations. (RS)

Examines the relationship between children's reading performance and their use of cohesion in writing. Finds that good readers achieved significantly more complex cohesive harmony in their writing than poor readers, who made significantly more inappropriate use of cohesive devices. Concludes that knowledge of cohesion is related to children's…

Utilizes statistical data on reading achievement from the National Assessment of Educational Progress to compare the performance of minority and nonminority students in suburban elementary schools. Suggests ways to improve the low minority student achievement. (FMW)