A systematic, coherent reading program leads to improvement in the achievement of an entire elementary school. (DD)

Reports preliminary findings of a study (in progress) on the statistical and content validity of eight reading achievement tests. (JM)

A sample of British special needs coordinators identified numbers of children in their schools with reading difficulties. More children were likely to be thus identified in schools with higher mean reading levels. Increasing use of within-school assessments under the new Code of Practice might therefore divert resources away from the neediest. (SK)

Examines the developmental spellings of 63 fourth-grade students who are poor readers by analyzing written story retellings. Suggests categories of misspellings that may demonstrate developmental spelling strategies used by this sample. Reviews current research to present possible interpretations of strategies used by the group. Summarizes…

Presents and discusses seven questions (generated by students in a graduate reading assessment and evaluation course) that form the "nitty-gritty" of what is really important when doing a case study on a child in reading/language arts. (RS)

Suggests measures of the reading-related variables are so closely connected that highly reliable measures of spelling level and word attack level for a student could be used to estimate or predict the student's levels of reading, listening, and word identification, and highly reliable measures of reading level and word identification level for a…

Explores the issues of equity and assessment in the context of classroom literacy settings. Defines classroom reading assessment and equity. Discusses (1) the promise classroom reading assessment can hold for teachers striving to assure equity; (2) what teachers can do in their classrooms to translate the promise of equity into reality; and (3)…

Evaluated relationship between Cognitive Levels Test (CLT) and two tests of academic achievement: Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests (WRAT) and KeyMath Diagnostic Arithmetic Test (KeyMath). Findings from children in kindergarten through second grade showed CLT to be rather highly correlated with KeyMath scores, modestly correlated with WRAT total…

Two Likert-type scales were used by 25 undergraduates to assess their reading and writing; assessments were compared to those of three judges. The study found a significant relationship between self-evaluation accuracy and reading and writing performance. Prior positive reinforcement did not significantly relate to reading or writing achievement.…

Uses picture-word interference tasks to examine the relationship between reading achievement and the automatic recognition of familiar and less familiar words and pseudowords. Finds that achieving and nonachieving fourth-grade readers show similar automatic recognition of both familiar and less familiar words. (MM)

People with reading difficulties experience automatic gaze guidance when using gliding text (subtitles). Reading exercises with gliding text eliminated reading difficulties for 21 second graders in 24 15-minute sessions. Mean reading speed increased from 10 to 24 words per minute. (SK)

To win new readers, many newspapers are now wooing students and teachers. They offer youth-oriented pages and sections that simplify adult news or examine topics of special interest to teens. Teachers tend to consider newspapers worthwhile educational tools. The article describes how various newspapers deal with students. (SM)

Argues that reading assessment must be reexamined and should focus on students' ability to apply learning strategies across content areas. Proposes a new method of assessment using observational and performance-based measures, process assessments, and content/course specific instruments. (HB)

Three issues in the debate over reading are (1) choice of instructional materials; (2) methods of teaching and testing; and (3) national standards for reading. Advocates a rational approach that recognizes limitations of tests to assess reading attainment and uses social dimensions and links with other language modes. (SK)

Describes the composition and responsibilities of a reading committee designed to improve the reading achievement of all students within the school. (MG)