For Policy Makers

LARC Resources for Policy Makers

• Comprehension Difficulties

• Educational Research Reports from the Michigan State University College of Education

Comprehension Difficulties

• Want to learn more about causes and interventions for students with comprehension difficulties? The Comprehension Difficulties chapter in this book reviews research on prevalence and causes of comprehension difficulties as well as strategies for addressing them. Other chapters in the book also address this topic.

Stone, C.A., Silliman, E.R., Ehren, B.J., & Apel, K. (Eds.). (2004). Handbook of language and literacy development and disorders. New York: Guilford.

• You can view a videotape of a one-hour talk on this subject at the International Reading Association website: View video (14 MB) Audio only (6.7 MB) View PowerPoint slides (190 KB)
• You can read a 5-page summary document titled “Comprehension Strategies Instruction” provided by Michael Pressley.

• Two books on the topic of comprehension difficulties are:
  • Intended primarily for researchers:
    • Oakhill, J., & Cornoldi, C. (1996). Reading comprehension difficulties: Processes and Interventions. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates’
  • Intended primarily for practitioners:
    • Carlisle, J., & Rice, M. (2002). Improving reading comprehension: Research-based principles and practices. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed, Inc.

• For a 30-hour online professional development module on comprehension, including comprehension difficulties, visit the ASSIST (Advocating Strong Standards-based Induction Support for Teachers) project website.

Educational Research Reports from the Michigan State University College of Education

• No Child Left Behind: What It Means for U.S. Adolescents by Mark Conley and Kathleen Hinchman, posted May, 2006

• Effective Beginning Reading Instruction, by Michael Pressley, posted March, 2006

• Five of the Most Frequently Allowed Testing Accomodations in State Policy, by Sara Bolt and Martha L. Thurlow, posted May, 2005

• Preparing Future Citizens by Cynthia Okolo and Ralph Ferretti, posted December 10, 2002

• Language Arts Standards in Action by Nell Duke and Bonnie Stewart, posted March, 1999