Explores task, person, and strategy variables as determinants of strategy use in college students, drawing upon study strategy, metacognition, and attribution research literatures. Finds that the college students reported using more than eight strategies per student on the average. (MG)

Examines, in two studies, the cognitive processes involved in locating specific information in a document, such as a table or directory. Concludes that efficient search is a matter of selective inspection to retrieve information relevant to specific goals. (SR)

Discusses the procedures for using the Classroom Reading Miscue Assessment which was developed by Denver area Coordinators/Consultants Applying Whole Language to help teachers efficiently gather miscue data. (MG)

Suggests changes in the Guided Reading format based on recent research on the nature of reading and reading instruction. Emphasizes the dynamic process of constructing meaning from text. (MG)

Discusses potential dangers in the current move toward literature-based instruction across the curriculum. Calls for educators to help students understand that there are different stances one can take in reading a text and not to mislead them by treating literary works as if they were intended to be read "efferently." (MG)

Describes a condition called "reader's block" whereby the mind fails to comprehend the meaning of the text because of digressing thoughts. Suggests that "freereading," like freewriting, can help to clarify thoughts. Argues that it is not necessary to read things correctly the first time through. (PRA)

Investigates the size and shape of the effective visual field in Chinese reading by systematically manipulating the availability of meaningful information on both sides of a fixated character. Shows that the effective visual field was asymmetric and skewed in the direction of scanning with a highly limited size, composed of the fixated character…

Analyzes and compares the types and frequencies of background knowledge children use during independent emergent readings, and those children and teachers use in group-shared reading experiences that precede emergent readings. Uses this information to provide evidence for a model of reading as an activity constrained by contextual factors such as…

Discusses what would happen if instruction were designed to parallel the thought processes readers use when they are interacting with literature. Suggests that an understanding of the thinking readers engage in can provide a foundation for a model of curricular reform. Discusses 10 such thought processes, which can lead to powerful educational…

A four-year longitudinal study examined relationship between phonological skills of 100 Chinese children and the children's success in reading. Findings indicated that prereading phonological skills assessed at age 3 predicted the children's reading performance in Chinese two and three years later, even after controlling for the effects of age,…

Examines the nature and development of fluent second language English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) word integration skills involved in lower-level text processing. Four theoretical approaches to word integration and sentence processing in the first language and second language ESL literature are discussed in conjunction with a review of the relevant…

Borrows Robertson Davies definition of "fifth business": roles in a drama that are neither heroine nor hero but are necessary nevertheless to carry out the denouement. Suggests that reading may be seen as a play in which there is some fifth business without which the reading process cannot fully happen. Uses a variety of typefaces. (TB)

Reviews problems with the constructionist view of comprehension, often based on schema theories, in light of evidence suggesting that bottom-up processes are predominant in comprehension. Reports on three alternative views of the role of top-down processing in comprehension. Proposes that some elements of schema theory remain important to…

Gives a brief history of miscue analysis, and then describes miscue analysis procedures, how to code and analyze miscues, and the reader's knowledge of the language cuing systems. Includes an appendix of markings for miscue analysis. (SR)

Examined children's modification of their own retrieval processes in a cued recall task. Results suggested that monitoring and modification of retrieval processes should be distinguished and that monitoring is necessary but not sufficient for induction of an effective retrieval strategy. Results also had implications for understanding children's…