The Successful Teacher of Reading: An Optimistic Explainer of Variance.

Since both good and poor reading achievement have been produced with any one of several developmental reading approaches, teacher characteristics are thought to be an important, however seldom tested, variable in reading achievement. A study conducted by the author which employed the author constructed Teacher Effort Scale in Reading indicated that high teacher effort correlated positively with the reading achievement of classes. The teachers judged to be high effort versus low effort teachers in reading expended a high degree of effort while attempting to individualize instruction in their classes. Four subscales of the rating scale noted efforts to: (1) secure and utilize a variety of materials; (2) provide differentiated instruction; (3) keep records of student progress; and (4) arrange conferences dealing with an individual student's progress. The success of the high effort teacher in the study cited lends increased support for the training of teachers to William Powell's "automatic" level where the teacher blends knowledge and action together and to Arthur Gates' observance in 1937 that success in reading depends on the effectiveness of the teacher, the availability and effective use of materials, and the adherence to individual differences. (MKM)