Despite recent findings that show fluency deficits in developmental readers, the field of developmental reading remains remiss in fluency instruction. This article provides a summary intended to increase college reading teachers' understanding of reading fluency and fluency instruction. In addition, included are the step-by-step procedures of…

This study was born from the idea that valid comparison research can be conducted with students who are placed into and exempt from required developmental reading courses and that these groups do contain students with similar reading ability. This overlooked population consists of students with placement test scores that hover tightly on either…

Examines the effects of course-based reading strategy training--student application of reading strategies to their own college readings--on developmental college learners' reading comprehension skills. Explains that this study gave one group of students learning strategies instruction and gave no such instructions to a control group. Reports…

Discusses a study conducted at California State University, Dominguez Hills to develop data regarding the reading skills of a sample of upper-division students. Reports that 52-57% of those students who participated in all phases of the study presented reading skills below the expected college level. Recommends that more attention be paid to…

Examines the results of using the Phono-Graphix reading method, designed for students with reading disabilities, to teach nine prison inmates to read. Reports that inmates' average basic reading skills standard score gains were 17 points (more than one standard deviation) after 33 one-hour sessions, an average gain of 1.9 standard points per…

Using a review of survey responses from developmental reading students at a residential two-year college, this article reports that great emphasis should be placed on student/faculty interactions and positive peer group interactions in the college experience. Suggests that faculty members participate in academic advising, offer study skills…

Describes the visual arts as a means of helping remedial reading and writing students to "see" the process of writing. Discusses the use of clay sculpting to demonstrate free-writing techniques, Venn-mobiles to demonstrate compare/contrast techniques, and wraps (felt "tortillas" and fillings) to demonstrate summary writing. (Contains 10…

Describes the experience of one developmental reading class instructor in using articles from current event publications to foster problem solving, synthesis and analysis, and perspective-taking. Discusses the assignments given to the students and the process used for evaluating student work. Includes a six-step demonstration of study strategies.…

Describes a follow-up survey of United States developmental reading programs. Analyzes data and compares them with findings from the previous decade to draw implications for the future of college developmental reading. States that developmental education is dependent on innovative teaching and learning strategies and on an increase in the…

Reviews research on psychophysiological approaches to learning and memory, focusing on memory aids, levels of rehearsal, and visual mnemotechnics. Explains and illustrates the use of study mapping, a system of note taking and studying appropriate for developmental reading courses. (DMM)

Suggests that interesting and relevant reading materials can be collected for developmental reading courses by asking faculty from various disciplines to submit short, original articles on topics of their choice within their area of expertise. Describes the successful use of this approach. (DMM)

Assesses the effectiveness of teaching metacognitive thinking strategies through modeling to college students. Compares the reading test performance of students who had the strategies modeled to them, of students who only had the strategies taught to them, and of control group students. Teaching the strategies without modeling was ineffective.…

Describes ARC (Associate=Prereading, Read=Guided Reading, Connect=After Reading), an instructional reading technique employing cognitive mapping or networking, based on the ability of students to utilize prior knowledge and assimilate new material. Describes the ARC procedure, provides a rationale for the technique, and reports observed results.…

Assesses the effects of interspersed-adjunct summary questions (i.e., questions appearing regularly throughout reading text requiring students to summarize the main points of previously read material) on reading comprehension and comprehension monitoring (i.e., awareness of level of understanding during reading tasks) of high-ability and…

Presents preliminary results from a continuing study of academic locus of control (ALOC). Describes ALOC differences between development/nondevelopmental students, males/females, and based on class status and number of developmental courses taken. Reveals a more highly developed sense of internal control among nondevelopmental students. Includes…