Because reading is a language-based skill and many communicatively handicapped youngsters experience difficulties with it, speech-language pathologists have important roles in assisting with reading development for these children. Suggestions are offered for use in speech-language sessions and with teachers or parents. (Author)

Presents a method of teaching children how to read using a constructive communicative technique. (MP)

This article reviews the literature on the importance of phonological awareness within the context of language/literacy learning and discusses the developmental continuum of phoneme awareness skills. Specific techniques are suggested to guide the speech-language pathologist in the assessment of phonological awareness skills. (Author/DB)

This book provides educators, parents and caretakers with a variety of instructional strategies for engaging K-8 students. These approaches are designed to enable all students to read easily and enjoyably by utilizing different styles and approaches. The techniques are not generally found in conventional classrooms, but are specifically targeted…

Parents have an important role in their child's early preparation for reading. To help children develop positive attitudes towards reading, parents can read aloud, talk and listen to their children, show good reading habits, play with their children, and take field trips. (DF)

An analogy is drawn between understanding Shakespeare's work and the debate about teaching beginning reading. The apparent ease of reading is seen to mask its very real complexity. The importance of the early reading environment for readiness and the necessity of teaching sounds and then words is stressed. Tips for teaching phonological awareness…

This article briefly summarizes what is known about how phonological awareness fits into the beginning reading process and effective methods for teaching phonological awareness. Special difficulties with phonological awareness of children with learning disabilities or from culturally diverse backgrounds are noted. (DB)

This "funbook" presents reading and writing activities to help children prepare for reading and writing. Activities introduce the alphabet, and assist children to print letters of the alphabet and engage in other readiness tasks. The margins of many of the pages present instructions for "reading partners." The booklet includes…

This document collects technical resources for assessing literacy among young children and the literacy environments of early childhood programs. Contents include: (1) a checklist for assessing the literacy environments of kindergartens; (2) an article on assessment and early literacy; (3) a discussion of basic aspects of the formal and informal…

A parent-resource teacher working in a public elementary school's Child Parent Center for preschool children in Chicago, Illinois, implemented a series of reading readiness training workshops for parents, preschool children, teachers, and teacher aides. These workshops were designed to increase disadvantaged black preschool children's reading…

Noting that the purpose of testing and test validity, reliability, norms, and usefulness should be primary considerations in choosing a reading test, this paper is intended to serve as a guide in test selection. The document provides a checklist for collecting the information necessary for selecting a test, and brief overviews of five reading…

Guidelines for parents involved in teaching their children to read are provided in this Australian early childhood resource booklet. Suggestions are offered for introducing words to children, talking to children, and reading to children. Material focused on the topic of learning to read at home is divided into two sections: (1) reading games, and…

The purpose of this manual is to present in a practical way the ideas from pre-elementary Right to Read programs that they may help to enrich and expand other early childhood education programs. Besides dealing with assessment, skill areas, and activities, the manual supplies other relevant information on the following topics: (1) dimensions of a…

This paper contends that a person's readiness for academic learning should be based on his/her developmental readiness, not on chronological age requirements. Human beings develop at their own neurological rates (biological clock). The paper first cites research on a "sensitive learning period" in which learning is mastered in a more efficient…

Contends a good personalized literature-based reading program begins with a readiness approach not governed or directed by a rigid set of prescribed activities in reading readiness books. Discusses the importance of: an invigorating classroom environment; materials that have significance; a rich experiential atmosphere; an abundance of quality…