Reasons for reading difficulties are explored, such as failure to understand the language of instruction and the conventions of print, lack of time, etc. The "hypothesis test technique" is recommended for training students to use context, sentence meaning, and single letter cues to recognize a word. (JDD)

This article discusses the distinctions between literal and critical reading and explains the role that word recognition ability plays in critical reading behavior. It concludes that correct word recognition provides the raw material on which higher order critical reading is based. (DB)

To test three hypotheses concerning fingerspelling's contribution to word recognition, 24 deaf children in three age groups (7-9, 10-12, and 13-15 years) were administered a vocabulary recognition test and a lexical decision task. Subjects' performance was measured by the number of words accurately identified and the response latency. Results did…

This article introduces Making and Writing Words Using Letter Patterns (MWW-LP), a variation of the popular Making Words word study and spelling instructional activity. Research indicates that proficient readers use knowledge of letter patterns such as onsets, rimes, and affixes to decode unknown words. The MWW-LP activity uses such letter…

This study with 32 primary school children (ages 6 and 8) confirms that children read words better in context but concludes that the use of context as a routine way of compensating for poor decoding skills may lead to future reading difficulties. (DB)

Describes a content-oriented instructional method that relies on the vocabulary resources of a group of learners to help them understand the impact of words in various contexts. (FL)

Describes 44 methods for introducing, reinforcing, and extending vocabulary in the reading program. (FL)

Making and Writing Words is a variation of Making Words, a popular spelling and word study instructional activity. In Making and Writing Words, students are guided by their teacher in writing and sorting words using a limited set of letters, then students write the words on a sheet of paper designed to accommodate the activity. Teachers have found…

Cites a number of references from linguists and other researchers about the relative unimportance of knowing where to divide words according to rules. Offers alternative ideas for teaching syllabication. (FL)

Offers a vocabulary testing technique that requires the student to match the description of a situation or the expression of an idea with a word to which the situation or idea alludes. (FL)

Describes a variety of activities for improving students' social studies vocabulary. Groups the activities under the principles of LURE: (1) Linking the new word to a known word or words; (2) Using the new word in speaking and writing; (3) Revisiting new words immediately and often; and (4) Enjoying the fun and power of knowing new words. (SG)

The premise of this booklet is that reading should be taught from the beginning to all students with the techniques and materials and orders of presentation that have been found to be effective in remediation, such as the concept of controlled lists. It is "common sense" to teach words in such lists in phonic context, rather than the…

Letting students as they read underline or highlight words they do not know allows teachers to find out the words their students do not know. This procedure also leaves a record of all the once unknown words for students to re-read later. It is an added advantage for teachers that it allows them to see how far into a book students have read, and…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT (Except for the Evaluation Summary Table): VERSION: 1981. PRODUCER: Hartley Courseware, Inc., Box 431, Dimondale, Michigan 48821. EVALUATION COMPLETED: January, 1983 at the Clackamas County ESD in Milwaukie, Oregon. COST: $26.95. ABILITY LEVEL: Grades 2-6. SUBJECT: Language Arts. MEDIUM OF TRANSFER:…

The prevailing assumption underlying practice in the classroom is that children acquire most of their new words from context during silent reading. The trouble with learning from silent reading is that many pupils do not read widely or quickly enough. Reading aloud to children will, however, allow them to participate in activity that they all can…