Purpose: On the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress, 36 percent of Grade 4 students and 26 percent of Grade 8 students were at or below the basic level of reading. The purpose of this project is to produce a comprehensive reading comprehension strategies program for Grades 4 and 5 consisting of a teacher-training component and materials for 53 lessons.

Project Activities: Technology development includes producing a teacher training DVD that provides a series of video clips of actual teachers modeling effective instructional techniques with students. Content development of the nine reading strategies and 53 lessons is based on well-accepted instructional principles identified by researchers as critical for reading comprehension. The evaluation will occur in nine schools and 34 fourth and fifth grade classrooms.

Products: Products will include a teacher training DVD, a teacher's guide for the curriculum, student activity books, posters, and overhead transparencies. Unit-level assessments are being developed for use in conjunction with the curriculum.