Defines grade level as an age grouping that yields an achievement distribution approximating a normal curve, with the distribution average at grade level in a typical school. With an average teacher, an average child gains a year. Educators must accept this normal range of reading achievement and adjust instruction to it. Includes eight…

Data from a study on silent classroom reading with 105 learning disabled students (aged 6-12 years) are reanalyzed using linear structural equation modeling. It appears that, when entry-level abilities are controlled, silent reading did not have a significant effect on posttest reading performance. (TJH)

Studies two nonidentical twin boys with severe, specific developmental language disorders with respect to their linguistic, neurolinguistic and pragmatic development. Finds that, in spite of poor linguistic awareness, the boys acquired normal reading/spelling skills; however, the boys differed considerably in some aspects of reading and spelling…

Describes alternative assessment approaches that provide important information about students with reading difficulties. Criticizes the medical or diagnostic/prescriptive approach to diagnosis. Presents a four-step diagnostic process derived from the holistic/wellness model. (HB)

A study was conducted with 782 elementary school students to determine whether the Homan-Hewitt Readability Formula could identify the readability of a single-sentence test item. Results indicate that a relationship exists between students' reading grade levels and responses to test items written at higher readability levels. (SLD)

Explores reading strategies used by two groups of readers differentiated in terms of academic performance subsequent to their first year in law school. Finds that students in the top quartile used different strategies than students in the bottom quartile. Suggests that attention should be paid to literacy requirements and practices as students…

Education can benefit from knowledge derived from cognitive and developmental psychology. Family demographics have actually improved between 1970 and 90 and so have NAEP scores. Three innovative programs demonstrating cognitive science applications include the Teaching Number Sense elementary math program, reciprocal teaching (reading strategy),…

The vocabulary, sentence structure, and organization of a pharmacy education handout were lowered, main ideas were highlighted, and special introductions were written. There was no statistically significant difference in reading comprehension scores between subjects receiving the modified pamphlet and subjects receiving the standard version. (21…

Discussion of informal reading assessment procedures provides middle school teachers with several basic techniques for securing and using assessment data to implement an effective instructional program. (11 references) (MLF)

Finds that low ability and average ability students benefit more from reading plays than reading stories. Finds that the performance of low ability readers equalled high ability readers when both participated in group oral readings of plays. (RS)

Found nontraditional assessment tools to be good predictors of current reading instruction group for nonhandicapped and mildly handicapped children. Iowa Tests of Basic Skills reading scores, curriculum-based measurement reading probes, and teachers' rating scale were able to stratify large sample of elementary school children into Chapter 1,…

Data relating to an intermediate-grade student with learning disabilities were collected when the student was being served in a resource room and during full-time mainstreaming. Data included achievement measures, classroom observation data, and school adjustment data. Data do not show significant improvements in reading achievement when in the…

This case study chronicles the development of reading and writing in a student (age eight) with a learning disability. The study is rooted in cognitive science, sociohistorical, and developmental perspectives of literacy. The study discusses appropriate assistance to be offered while engaging the child in personally meaningful reading and writing…

Finds that children with learning disabilities performed significantly worse on only the first level of phonemic awareness compared to younger children of average reading ability at the same reading age level and significantly worse on compound phonemic awareness compared to a control group. Explicates implications for diagnosis and remediation of…

Critiques standardized, static literacy assessment practice. Proposes an interactive, curriculum-embedded, multidimensional approach to assessment based on observations and records of student literacy made on a variety of occasions over time and in a variety of authentic learning contexts. Demonstrates how a teacher and a student interacted to…