On April 8, 2016 when the class was discussing "digital literacy," a shocking news story from London AP intrigued us. The news was about a brief text message delivered by Ahmed, a refugee Afghan boy of 6-year old. His text message flashed on the cellphone of Liz Clegg, a volunteer at a migrant camp in France. Clegg and other volunteers…

This paper is based on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluation of a reading programme delivered by older adult volunteers for at-risk early readers. Wizards of Words (WoW) was targeted at socially disadvantaged children in first and second grade experiencing delays in reading but who were not eligible for formal literacy supports. The…

Compares two approaches to teaching reading to adults: the eclectic, research-based method of Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) and the phonics-based Laubach Literacy International. Concludes that LVA has the advantages of adaptability to student differences, a thorough evaluation system, and a superior published reading series. (SK)

The authors recommend a reading tutoring lesson framework, in a checklist format, to guide volunteer tutors during tutoring sessions for children in elementary grades 1-3. The reading tutor checklist is intended to be used by literacy coaches, reading specialists, and classroom teachers to train literacy volunteers in schools. The checklist…

The contents of this issue consist of articles concerning various facets of the teaching of reading. A guest article by Patrick Groff is entitled "Phonics Teachers: Join the Consumer Movement." Other articles focus on volunteers in public schools, the high risk child, the importance of good vision, the testing of tests, the…

The mother of a son with dyslexia documents her son's success in learning to read in a private school using the Orton-Gillingham approach and her efforts to bring that approach into the public schools of Delaware, through Project ASSIST (Alphabetic Sound Symbol Instruction Systematically Taught) and its volunteer tutors and teacher training.…