Examines 35 low-SES, urban children's ways of interpreting traditional skills-based literacy instruction in kindergarten and first grade. Reveals four patterns of success/nonsuccess in literacy development within the classroom context. (MG)

Investigates the effect of phonemic awareness training on the phonemic awareness and reading ability of low- and middle-achieving first graders. Finds that training which provided subjects with a conceptual connection between phonemic skills and reading was generally ineffective for low readers. Suggests that phonemic awareness training for low-…

Examines differences in secondary students' vocabulary learning from inconsiderate (text characteristics that inhibit learning) and considerate contextual information. Reports that contextual information in natural text may be inconsiderate for word learning, but students may be satisfied with partial/erroneous knowledge. (MM)

Tests the hypothesis that differences between first-language (L1) and second-language (L2) reading and spelling profiles could be accounted for by lack of proficiency in the L2 or differences in orthographic complexity. Finds that neither of these explanations alone sufficed to explain the development of reading and spelling in the two languages…