This curriculum project reviews what the current literature reveals about the meaning of modality, what we know about modality strengths, matching student modality to teacher modality, as well as research studies related to modality-based instruction. The curriculum developed by the author is specifically designed for first grade teachers to use in correlation with the Ginn Level Two basal reader, Pocketful of Sunshine. The curriculum includes activities on how to introduce the objectives found in Pocketful of Sunshine to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. It also includes activities of reinforcement for all types of learners. The curriculum was submitted to two professors at the University of North Florida and two first grade teachers in Duval County to rate according to professional quality , usability and effectiveness. Results of the rating scale indicated this curriculum to be of professional quality, very organized, complete, easy to use and correlated well with the Ginn Level Two basal reader, Pocketful of Sunshine. Recommendations suggested that teachers would be more likely to use this curriculum if they had inservice training on modality-based instruction.

In this paper, it is the purpose of the author to develop a parent education program to reinforce selected primary level reading skills in primary students through student-parent activities in the home, school, and community.Specifically, this program will be designed for parents of primary level participants in the Title I Reading Program in the Baker County School System in Macclenny, Florida. The ideas presented here should be generally applicable to parents of primary level reading students in any setting, taking into account the adaptation to specific local community resources and the consideration of school policies in differing localities in relation to parental involvement in the schools.The final product will consist of six parent-teacher sessions designed to promote parental profieiency in reinforcing reading skills in the areas of (1) improved attitudes toward education and its relative worth, (2) improved language development in children, (3) improved home study environment, (4) construction of and practice with games and activities for reinforcing selected primary level reading skills, (5) improved nutrition for children, (6) increased student-parent utilization of community resources, and (7) specific classroom tutoring and management techniques.

The study was conducted to investigate the possibility of raising the comprehension scores of twenty advantaged students through the use of attribution theory in moving the student's locus of control, concept work, and imaging. The subjects of the control and experimental groups were male and female tenth and eleventh grade summer school students whose comprehension scores were at the fiftieth percentile or below or students who would benefit from comprehension instruction. The Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests (1978), Level F, Forms 1 and 2 were used respectively for the pretest and posttest. A related sample t test and analysis of covariance was used to test the null hypothesis. A significant gain was evidenced from the pretest to the posttest and the null hypothesis was rejected. The implications of the study are that the application of attribution theory in the movement of the student's locus of control, concept study, and imaging can significantly raise the comprehension scores of the advantaged student.

Text specific reading/learning strategies that reflect recent theoretical research in the reading process were incorporated into the 10th grade world history curriculum. These methods were intended to afford success for a specific group of students who had a history of failure and so lead those students toward independent reading and learning. They were also intended to motivate the world history teachers to use procedures that are congruent with the findings of research in reading and learning.

The purpose of the study was to construct a listening module for tenth grade students who were at least four grade levels behind in reading comprehension. The module was designed to be self-pacing, self-checking, motivating and improve factual recall. The module consisted of fifteen taped lessons, a taped pre test and post test, and was introduced by a motivational and directional statement. The lessons were chosen for their highly motivating nature and were organized in order of difficulty and length; the easier and shorter stories at the beginning and gradually getting more difficult and longer. In the module the students listened to a story and then were directed to complete an activity. They were also given instruction in the skill of factual recall before they began each story. They had a module booklet which contained all the activities and answers to assure independence. The pre test was administered first and when all lessons were completed, the post test was given. The module was integrated into the student1s language arts class and they worked on the module two hours a week for two weeks during the pilot testing. Included in the time devoted to the module was individual conferences with the teacher. Also, the students worked in groups of four to encourage feedback from peers.

The purpose of this project was to develop a thematic unit of children's literature that combines skills-based and meaning-based reading instruction. The curriculum guide was designed for use with third and fourth graders. Lessons concentrated on relating each story to previously read stories through guided questioning. Emphasis was placed on critical reading and thinking skills, as well as the integrating of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The curriculum was reviewed by seven third and fourth grade inservice teachers from two schools. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire. Results indicated that the teachers surveyed found the curriculum guide to be successful in combining children's literature into a thematic unit and that such a unit is an effective means of teaching reading. Also, the researcher concluded that the curriculum would be useful for teachers desiring to move toward a more holistic instructional approach. In addition, it was found that the curriculum effectively encouraged learner involvement and fostered higher-level thinking skills. Furthermore, the researcher concluded that the curriculum effectively integrated the four language art components in meaning-centered reading experiences which, in turn, enabled children to read, write, listen, and speak more often and at a higher level.

Readiness programs are often taken straight from a readiness workbook. Many children are not able to function in these workbooks, because they do not have the skills. The purpose of this project was to develop a readiness program of teacher directed activities to supplement the first grade readiness workbook. Chiefly, for those children that are having or have had difficulty in learning, and need more individual and specific instruction. This was done by providing a list by area, of sequenced skills and appropriate activities that involve little preparation time. This will provide the teacher with a usable handbook of ideas that can be taught at a specific time. There were easy to find specific skills and activities that a child needs, and then able to incorporate those activities into the lessons for the day. This project saved a lot of wasted time and unnecessary repetition, by their availability of activities. The list of skills made it easier for the teacher to identify the problem, find the correct skill needed and, then an activity to teach, reinforce or strengthen that skill. The authors conclusion is that it is a worthwhile advantage to any first grade or readiness program.

The goal of this project was to develop a reading readiness program which could be implemented into a given kindergarten curriculum. The focus of the paper was to identify the basic, skills necessary for successful reading and to list activities that the classroom teacher could use to increase a child's level of ability in each area. The seven basic skills identified as necessary pre-reading skills were; language development, listening skills, visual discrimination, visual memory, auditory discrimination, auditory memory and perceptual motor development. Over all goals for the project were also developed. Each of the seven areas discussed included; objectives, activities and assessment inventories. Recommendations for the project were discussed In terms of possible other approaches toward reading readiness.

The purpose of this thesis focused on a literature curriculum designed to improve reading comprehension through the stimulation of the right hemisphere of the brain. A case study of this curriculum development effort involved a third-grade student from a local public 2 school. He was a part-time Specific Learning Disability student with weaknesses in visual organization, visual concentration, and reading comprehension. A time span of six weeks was dedicated to increasing the child's reading comprehension within a literature framework through the use of right-brain stimulants, specifically, color and visualization. The Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test, Level C, administered at the conclusion of the instructional sessions, and teacher observation provided the evaluation of the curriculum. Results of the study proved inconclusive. Further field study was recommended.

Aliteracy, the term used to describe those who can read but choose not to do so, has become a grave concern in this country. A review of the literature indicates Americans are choosing to use their leisure time to interact with the electronic media to gather information instead of reading to gain knowledge. The skills of critical thinking and decision making are at stake. Schools and homes who have been successful in teaching the skill or reading must now instill the value of reading in order to preserve the democratic process upon which this country was founded.