Examines students' ability to understand definitions of novel verbs--in 2 experiments upper elementary students received definitions of pseudowords paired with sentences using those words and evaluated use as appropriate for definition given. Finds students' judgments about these sentences were not substantially different from chance, suggesting…

Finds that Japanese fifth graders' naming speed was a good indicator of the automaticity of the lexical access for both syllabaries and morphograms, but that skilled/less-skilled differences in vocalization latencies were greater for real words than for pseudowords for both hiragana and kanji. Discusses the applicability of C. A. Perfetti's verbal…

Examines relationships between readers' implicit models of reading processes and reader engagement. Notes that a factor analysis produced factors corresponding to a transmission model or to a transactional model. Finds that endorsing a transactional model was related to higher recall of expository text, and that individuals high on the…

Describes changes in literacy engagement during Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI), a new approach to teaching reading, writing, and science that emphasizes real-world science observations, student self-direction, strategy instruction, collaborative learning, self-expression, and coherence of literacy learning experiences. Finds that…

Presents a "conversation" (only slightly redrafted versions of first-and-final electronic communications) on the concept of "compellingness" in reading research (the conditions under which readers come to believe what an author writes). Draws on the authors' reading in logic, literary theory, mathematics, and the philosophy of…

Examines 16 preschoolers' classroom literacy behaviors. Studies one student's literacy activities at home. Finds book-related dramatic play to be an important part of children's literacy interactions. Indicates each instance could be described in terms of scope of play, type of connection, purposes for play, perspective explored, sign systems…

Presents results from a longitudinal study of Danish children of dyslexic and normally reading parents. Follows children from beginning of kindergarten to the beginning of grade 2. Finds children of dyslexics have an increased risk of dyslexia when dyslexia was defined as poor phonological recoding. Notes that all language measures in kindergarten…

Discusses what is to come in research on literacy in secondary schools. Connects interest in secondary school literacy to the content area reading movement and points to cognitive psychology as the primary conceptual basis for recent work. Explains why it is important to consider an even more shifting definition that locates the social and…

Investigates the strategic literacy knowledge, abilities, and potential of five Latino/a subjects (three were bilingual). Employs qualitative research methods and cognitive strategy lessons. Finds that students, with instructional support, implemented the focal strategies emphasized during the experiment and engaged in extended discourse which…

Investigates the role of phonetics for children learning to read Chinese. Reveals that children name phonetically regular Chinese characters more accurately than irregular ones; phonetic-related errors were the most dominant type. Suggests Chinese youngsters rely on phonetics for sound cues in naming Chinese characters; phonological awareness…

Examines school and classroom factors that moderated gender and home language gaps in reading achievement of New Zealand students. Uses data from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement survey to examine comprehension and word recognition scores of nine-year-olds. Shows that the magnitude of the gender gap and…

Examines, in four Texas districts, changes in teacher practices related to adoption of the new literature-based basal programs. Surveys over 250 teachers statewide; focuses on 14 teachers in depth. Finds (1) teachers changed practices from year one to year two; (2) teachers' epistemological orientations determined how they responded to changes in…

Analyzes the effort of a small group of high school seniors to interpret the character of Laertes in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" through a "body biography," a life-sized human outline they filled with images and words representing their understanding of the character. Examines their discussion as they composed their text. (PA)

Discusses the practices of three teacher educators--what they know about teaching teachers to be learners and instructors of literacy. (PA)

Presents some of the conceptions of balanced instruction. Provides information about the research and theory supporting each one. Describes some of the practical implications for classroom practice. (PA)