This research investigated the effects of two contrasting pre-k curricula, relative to practice as usual, on subsequent academic achievement. One curriculum had a strong literacy focus, the other was a less didactic "developmentally appropriate" curriculum that allowed children to have more influence on classroom activities. The purpose…

This manual for teachers sets forth in some detail the direct method of teaching children to read. It has proved successful to a very large degree in the hands of teachers with no experience or teaching preparation. This manual includes: (1) History of the Method; (2) The Method Explained; (3) Principles Underlying the Method; (4) Material Needed…

The focus of this study will be on the intersection of the following domains: Second Language Acquisition research on cohesion and coherence, discourse acquisition of young children, the effect of text form-focused instruction on student non-fiction writing and the impact of schema theory on student decision-making during the writing process.

This dissertation examined the efficacy of using minimally trained college undergraduates to tutor third- through fifth-grade students with reading difficulties. Tutors receiving four hours of training in scripted reading program based on the principles of Direct Instruction and emphasizing explicit instruction in phonological awareness and…

Discussions about the beginnings of mathematics education in early childhood are often caught up in a dilemma: should we stimulate spontaneous actions or provide direct instruction about elementary number-related actions? In this article we argue that either approach is problematic and neither is an optimal way of promoting the development of…