Abstract This study investigated whether task instruction affected comprehension of multiple conflicting-view texts after controlling for a number of individual difference variables and whether the effects of task instruction varied as a result of post-reading assessment tasks. Recruited from a First-Year Composition course, 64 participants received a task instruction that set the goal of seeking an

Abstract We explored whether knowledge building through read alouds of a conceptually coherent (CC) set of texts might support children’s incidental acquisition of vocabulary in these texts and listening comprehension of related texts. Eleven classrooms of first (n = 83) and second grade students (n = 112) were randomly assigned to read alouds of either a set of six CC informational texts or a set

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between elementary students’ reading skills and their online reading (i.e., real-time reading) behaviors during silent sentence processing. Thirty-five students participated in this study and their eye movements were recorded during sentence reading tasks. The effects of students’ reading skills measured by traditional standardized

Abstract The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to understand how 9th grade honors and general education language arts students made course enrollment decisions through the lens of the Expectancy-Value (E-V) theory. A survey was administered to 9th grade students (N = 118) attending a public high school with the overall mean score indicating fairly high reading motivation. A point

Abstract Reading motivation may elucidate discrepancies in reading achievement among multilingual high school students whose first language is Spanish. Utilizing a person-centered approach to investigate underlying reading motivation profiles among N = 174 adolescent native Spanish speakers (NSS), analyses yielded three latent profiles of reading motivation, including (a) an “Average” (AVG) class characterized

Abstract This study sought to examine sustained, school-based professional development (PD) on explicit reading comprehension strategy instruction (ERCSI) and its influence on teacher knowledge and practice and on student outcomes. Eight teachers participated - four first-grade and two teachers each from second and third grade. At the beginning of the school year, the teachers in this study scored

Abstract Supporting language skills for children who evidence delays in preschool is an important area of focus for school-age reading outcomes. Two preschool teachers were trained to implement a play-based language intervention, Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT), with children from low-income households with delayed language skills. A multiple-baseline single case design study was implemented to measure

Abstract Middle school is a place where many students are first introduced to more complex novels. Novel instruction in middle school English language arts classrooms is potentially influenced by the elementary focus on reading strategies and/or the secondary focus on literary analysis. Using a qualitative methodological approach, six middle school language arts teachers were interviewed about their

Abstract The purpose of this study, which employed mixed methods, was to document the implementation of a bilingual family literacy program with immigrant and refugee families from four different language groups in five different communities in a metropolitan area of Canada. Results indicated: 1) the program had a significant impact on children’s early learning, although there was some variation across

Abstract Reading literature contributes to the development of language skills and socioemotional competencies related to empathic responding. Despite implications for improving measures of empathy used by practitioners interested in reading behavior and their applications to teaching empathic skills through literature, extensions to the ability to express empathic inference of interpersonal encounters

Abstract Reading is a basic skill that is needed for academic success and employment opportunity. Aliteracy, or the lack of a reading habit, and lower motivation to read, are problems at the university level, especially among ethnically diverse adults. Reading self-efficacy is associated with reading comprehension, word reading, foreign language learning and the use of reading strategies. Given that

Abstract As students proceed through school, they are expected to comprehend complex texts but may not have the necessary competencies to do so. This study examined the impact of teaching text organization of lengthy social studies textbook passages on student comprehension of the content contained there. Over a 10-week period, 205 sixth-grade students received either routine social studies instruction

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the roles of social-emotional development, academic grit and subjective well-being in reading-writing motivation. Altogether 582 fourth-grade primary school students were sampled and invited to complete four different scales. The findings are: (1) Social-emotional development is correlated with reading-writing motivation, academic grit and subjective well-being

Abstract In this investigation, we examine the contribution of intrinsic content density (ICD) to measures of expository text processing. In Studies 1 and 2, the factor structure of select text density metrics was examined and refined using two text samples (Ns = 150) randomly selected from an expository text corpus. Scores on the ICD measure based on the entire text sample (N = 300) explained unique

Abstract This study investigates the relationships between reading motivation, language ability, and print-concept skills among Hebrew-speaking kindergarteners, before they are formally exposed to reading instruction. The purpose of the study was to explore reading motivation-literacy relationships and to determine whether there are differences in language and print concepts achievement between children

Abstract One potential contributor to student achievement that has garnered recent attention is students' mindset. A recent review of the literature on the effect of a growth mindset intervention on students' academic achievement has shown small effects, but limited research has been conducted with young students. This study investigated whether students who receive a growth mindset intervention in

Abstract This study examined the impact of the lexical distance (spoken, modern standard Arabic-MSA, shared, and pseudo-words) on phonological awareness (PA) and naming speed (RAN). The data from this longitudinal study were obtained from 261 native Arabic-speaking kindergarteners, which were then followed to first grade. The data revealed a significant effect of the lexical distance both on PA and

Abstract This paper explored the reading perceptions, needs, and practices of parents from an urban poor community in Manila, Philippines. 274 parents of K-1 pupils were surveyed to determine their reading perceptions, needs, and practices. The results revealed that the respondents believed that reading is important for their children’s social development, and that they are aware that reading starts

Abstract This study investigates the implicit reading beliefs (RBs) of a cohort of diverse English-as-a foreign language (EFL) undergraduate university students and their responses to a narrative text. Sixty-two (n = 62) students enrolled in an introductory reading education course participated in the study. The participants completed a demographic questionnaire and a modified version of the Schraw

Abstract The Arabic writing system allows for two representations: vowelized or non-vowelized. The vowelized writing, which characterizes the writing in the Koran, classical literature and children’s books, includes the long and short vowels and all the vowels, including the vowels that express syntax functions (the final vowels). In non-vowelized writing, only the consonants and long vowels appear

Abstract This study assessed the metacognitive awareness of reading strategies of undergraduate university students in US and Qatar in reading academic materials. To achieve this, the participants were administered the Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI). The inventory consists of three groups of reading strategies, namely global reading strategies, problem-solving strategies

Abstract Perceptions of reading comprehension and knowledge of strategy, called generalized metacomprehension (GM), can influence study habits and metacognition accuracy, ultimately influencing academic success. One factor that may influence GM is personality. Personality likely relates to GM, as it is correlated with other types of cognitive and metacognitive outcomes. Because personality is stable

Abstract A critical review was conducted to determine the influence background knowledge has on the reading comprehension of primary school-aged children. We identified twenty-three studies that met our criteria and focused on the links between background knowledge and reading comprehension of children in the mid to late primary years. Review findings highlight that higher levels of background knowledge

Abstract In recent years, stronger literacy development has emerged as a critically important issue in Arabic speaking nations. Results of international assessments indicate that most of the participating Arab countries are near the bottom of achievement levels. Additionally, recent studies indicate the prevalence rate of reading disability ranges from between 5 − 18%, which means that approximately

Abstract Reading comprehension is the goal of reading, and making inferences is vital. Authors usually expect readers to make multiple types of inferences, including anaphoric, background knowledge, predictive, and retrospective. Common core assessments include all of these, yet instructional materials focus mostly on only one type, retrospective. This article describes how teachers in one school district

Abstract The current work was conducted to better understand the influences of source presence and individual differences on evaluating and sharing information from multiple conflicting Internet texts about childhood vaccinations. The results indicate that college student readers appeared to be insensitive to a source availability manipulation. However, their preexisting beliefs, specifically in terms

Abstract We investigated the contribution of morphological awareness to university students’ reading comprehension ability. Although there is considerable evidence that morphological awareness contributes to children’s reading ability, there is much less evidence concerning adults; the few studies of adults have not controlled other known predictors of reading comprehension. Furthermore, there is little

Abstract Although research provides ample evidence of teaching methods that facilitate students’ learning of specific word meanings, the potential of instruction to impact students’ general vocabulary knowledge has remained an unanswered question. This article reports on a three-year formative experiment that developed, implemented, and tested a long-term, multifaceted vocabulary instruction program

Abstract Running Records provide a standardized method for recording and assessing students’ oral reading behaviors and are excellent formative assessment tools to guide instructional decision-making. This study expands on prior Running Record reliability work by evaluating the extent to which external raters and teachers consistently assessed students’ accuracy and self-correction ratios in the context

Abstract Previous research has demonstrated that negated text (i.e., text that contains words such as no, not, or never) presents considerable challenges to accurate reading comprehension. Furthermore, while metacomprehension judgements have indicated an awareness of this challenge on the readers’ part, this insight has not translated into improvements in comprehension of this type of text. Previous

Abstract This study integrated reading and bilingual theories to examine the reading behaviors of second grade Latinx students in a Dual Language program. It explored how the students’ differing language backgrounds (simultaneous bilinguals and sequential bilinguals who had developed Spanish as a home language) might influence their early reading behaviors. Data sources include Spanish and English

Abstract The present study employed regression analyses to examine the influence of cognitive competencies (decoding ability, vocabulary knowledge, prior knowledge) and intrinsic motivation (curiosity and involvement) on the comprehension of narrative and informational texts. Participants included 104 students in grades four and five. Results showed informational text comprehension was predicted with

(2021). The Wiley Handbook of Adult Literacy. Reading Psychology: Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 680-684.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine how disciplinary literacy instruction influenced the quality of science informational text produced by second-grade students (N = 45) using the compare/contrast and the sequence text structures. The instruction took place over eight weeks with two four-week units, and with three 30-minute lessons provided weekly. A Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was used

Abstract There is a worldwide concern about science and engineering undergraduate students, particularly those who are English language learners, struggling with their entry-level content courses. From a teacher cognition perspective and drawing on semi-structured interviews with chemistry, mathematics and physics teachers at a university in the Middle East, we sought to gain insights into the extent

Abstract Low-achieving adolescents are known to have difficulties with reading comprehension. This article discusses whether principles of reciprocal teaching can improve low-achieving adolescents' reading comprehension in whole-classroom settings and to what extent treatment effects are dependent on implementation quality. Over the course of two years, experimental teachers (n = 10) were given training

Abstract A member of the literacy professoriate, it is expected, has undertaken a program of preparation that leads to a breadth and depth of professional knowledge supporting a career of impactful scholarship along with the training of future generations of literacy teachers, specialists, and often professors. Yet, while current members of the literacy professoriate, as well as those individuals preparing

Abstract Motivation and engagement play a crucial role in literacy development and achievement. However, the construct of reading engagement has become blurred and ambiguous, both in research and in discussions of practice. In order to guide future research and to extend our existing understanding of reading engagement into classroom practice, this study presents an extensive survey and systematic

Abstract This article explores how a second-grade teacher’s strategic talk moves supported her multilingual students, many of whom were designated as English Learners (ELs), to engage with complex content using purposeful, authentic communication during a 14-week read-aloud unit focused on historical changemakers. Collaborative coding of whole-class and small-group discussions indicated that the teacher

Abstract This research addressed some current issues in L2 reading strategy research (the nature of any gender effect, and the use of multiple data gathering instruments) as well as an important problem at tertiary level in Saudi Arabia (low English reading proficiency). It examined which reading strategies were most widely reported by 120 Saudi EFL intensive English course students in a Saudi state

Abstract Over 11 million students enter school speaking a language other than English. Due to their emerging English proficiency, many English Learners (ELs) struggle with English literacy, which impacts their overall achievement in school. However, there is evidence that ELs who have solid skills in their native language are able to apply their understanding to their learning in English. Thus, it

Abstract The study examined aspects of parent-child shared reading interactions of two Hebrew alphabet books, children’s motivation to engage in early literacy activities, and how these variables relate to children’s early literacy skills. Participants were 44 children (32 girls, 12 boys) aged 4.6 to 6.6 years (M = 5.6, SD = 0.54) and one parent (42 mothers, 2 fathers). Results revealed that parents

Abstract Background Few studies have examined associations of public library use and shared book reading to kindergarten children’s academic skills. Methods The study sample consisted of 13,385 kindergarten students enrolled in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010–2011 (ECLS-K: 2011). Parents reported on public library use in the past month (yes/no) and frequency of shared

Abstract In this study, middle school language arts teachers engaged in focus group interviews and shared their perceptions of content literacy, experiential learning, assessment data, and refined practice prior to and after participating in a sustained content literacy professional development. Findings based on these perceptions demonstrate a need for continued development in the afore mentioned

Abstract Readability systems have once more become prominent in policy and practice because of recommendations in the Common Core State Standards. This study revisited two features of current text analysis (readability) systems: their generalizability to all grade levels and to all content areas. A database that encompassed texts across the grade bands and content areas and included aggregate comprehension

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the causal connectivity of the statements (their total number of causal connections) and the modality of presentation of discourse (oral-written) in the generation of emotion inferences by Spanish-speaking students. With this aim, we asked a group of Argentine college students to either listen to or read an excerpt of a radio interview (on

Abstract The present study focused on examining how individuals make adaptations while reading non-linear graphic text by examining the role of executive functioning, as well as identifying and describing the reading processes individuals use while reading. Sixty-seven students in Grades 9 through 12 engaged in verbal reporting while reading graphic text, in addition to answering comprehension questions

Abstract Quality out-of-school reading programs have positive impact on students’ academic learning. However, the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers for such programs can be challenging. In this article, we described an out-of-school reading project, the It Takes a Village Project (or Village Project), that not only enhanced students’ reading outcomes, but also supported the development

Abstract This cognitive interview study aims to improve the content validity of a newly developed reading motivation instrument for English learners. Previous research has shown there is a significant need for survey developers to conduct cognitive interviews to ensure that in real world settings survey respondents interpret the items as the framers intended. The proposed study focuses on six main

Abstract This ethnographic case study explores the dynamic and fluid development of one African-American student’s bilingual/biliterate identity through her enrollment in a Spanish-English Dual Language Education program. We integrate the frameworks of identity in interaction and monoglossic and raciolinguistic language ideologies to understand how this student approaches her Spanish language and literacy

Abstract This study investigated reading motivation among high school bi/multilingual students whose first language was Spanish. Latinx English Learners (N = 171) from four southeastern, suburban high schools completed the Adolescent Motivation to Read Profile (AMRP; Pitcher et al., 2007), a survey that proposes to measure two dimensions of reading motivation. Using exploratory structural equation

Abstract In this manuscript, we foreground the concept of critical affective theory drawing on scholarship from within and outside of literacy education and highlight testimony and critical witness as an example of affective practice to foster students’ literacy experiences. Situated within a study of a writing methods course in an elementary teacher education program, we explore testimony and critical

Abstract This study examines the psychometric properties of a reading motivation measure with a sample of upper elementary students in the United States (n = 195). The research explores upper elementary students’ motivation to read, the amount/frequency of their reading in general, and their preferences for different text genres. Factor analyses support the validity and reliability of the SRQ-RM for

Abstract Scholars contend that agency is at the heart of cultivating equitable learning spaces for all learners. While it is intuitive that literacy educators support agency during instruction, there is diverse terminology surrounding the concept of agency in the field. As a result, aligning the construct to instructional practices and developing a conceptual understanding of agency in practice has

Abstract There have been recent calls to support student agency in the field of literacy. Agency, which we define in the context of schooling, is a multidimensional construct where individuals exert influence and create opportunities in the learning context through intentions, decisions, and actions. We propose highlighting agency as an interconnected construct, which includes self-perception as readers

Abstract Literacy learning has focused on skills over affective dimensions, such as self-efficacy, since the beginning of the 21st century. Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s abilities to accomplish desired outcomes. What is less well known is how teachers provide effective literacy instruction linked to the affective dimension of development. How can we nurture students’ self-efficacy while bolstering

Abstract Working through four key tenets of Deleuze–Guattarian theory, the authors describe how contemporary affect theory offers a radically different perspective on reading. Asking how we can conceptualize reading differently if we conceptualize affect differently, we argue that possible meanings of reading or experiences of reading must be considered not as inherent to internal experiences of reading

Abstract Using the evidence from teacher professional learning communities, we explore the ways in which students can collaborate and build their collective efficacy.

Abstract Employing a mixed methods approach, this study examined the reading motivations of dual language learners (DLLs) in Grades 3–5 in a suburban Title I school in which the student population was predominantly Hispanic. Twenty-one students completed self-report surveys and participated in interviews focused on two intrinsic motivations (involvement and curiosity), two extrinsic motivations (competition

In this second themed issue on Affective Dimensions of Student Literacy Learning, scholars engage in a productive discussion about affect, engagement, motivation, efficacy, and agency. Using a vari...