Finds that third and fifth graders were able to select characters containing the correct radicals (a component of Chinese characters that provides information about the character's meaning) even when the characters as a whole were unfamiliar to them. Finds that good readers displayed more awareness of radicals than poor readers. (RS)

Results from a study of the development of word-decoding skills in 60 8-year-old and 60 10-year-old children are consistent with models suggesting that children become proficient in phonological decoding first, and then shift gradually to a more direct orthographic-decoding strategy. (SLD)

Tutoring sessions within a LATCH-ON (Literacy and Technology-Hands On) program were provided to a 19-year-old woman with Down syndrome. Instruction focused primarily on phonics instruction, as well as other decoding strategies. She developed the ability to associate consonant and vowel sounds with letter presentations and to recognize whole word…

Discusses current research regarding oral reading errors or miscues to facilitate teacher expertise in decision making within the fast-paced interaction of reading instruction. (MG)

A follow-on study was conducted on first-grade and third-grade children who were tested on a word identification measure of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test. Results found decoding strategy was highly correlated with concurrent reading test scores. Use of phonetic decoding was a strong positive predictor and whole word decoding a negative…

Focuses on one procedure in whole-language reading instruction--individualized reading. Pinpoints a need for an adequate supply of appropriate library books to read and opportunities for pupils in a committee to have a group conference with the teacher. Cites selected issues that need resolving when heavy emphasis is placed upon phonics…

Researchers agree that a core linguistic deficit underlies poor reading at all ages; poor readers generally exhibit weaknesses in phonological processing and word-recognition speed and accuracy. Reading intervention grounded in research imparts to older readers the skills missed in primary grades and can bring them to grade level in 1 or 2 years.…

Reports on two longitudinal studies in which 3 subgroups of German-speaking children (phonological awareness deficit, naming-speed deficit, and double deficit) were assessed for reading and spelling performance three years later. Unlike findings with English-speaking children, results reveal that phonological awareness deficits did not affect…

Compares the effectiveness of word box instruction and word sort instruction on 42 first-grade children's phonemic awareness, word identification, and spelling performance. Finds significant differences favoring (1) word box instruction over traditional instruction on all measures except spelling; and (2) word sort instruction over traditional…

The authors examined the processing of phonological and orthographic word representations among 17 dyslexic and 16 normal college-level readers using Event-Related Potential measures. They focused on 2 early components--the P200 and the P300. The results revealed P200 and P300 components of lower amplitude and later latency among dyslexic readers…

The effectiveness of explicit fluency interventions, with decoding instruction as needed, on a single subject in grade three was investigated. Fluency interventions, including choral reading, echo reading, repeated reading, audio book modeling, and teacher modeling, were conducted over a period of 8 weeks. Results indicated that using manageable…

This digest provides basic information on phonological awareness in the process of learning to read for students with learning disabilities. It considers how phonological awareness fits into this process and the special problems experienced by children with learning disabilities or from culturally diverse backgrounds. Suggestions for teaching…

A study examined language learners' ability to integrate information from sentence contexts and semantic decomposition in interpreting novel kanji compounds (i.e., words consisting of two or more Japanese characters). Subjects, 59 English-speaking college students learning Japanese, inferred the meanings of 72 unknown compounds consisting of…

Published by the state of North Carolina, the purpose of this booklet is to assist teachers as they plan instruction to help students become proficient readers. The booklet contains matrices for comprehension, word identification, and instructional strategies to assist in planning and helping students be successful on the End-of-Grade (EOG) Tests…

Deals with the problem of transcoding, that is, when in switching from one sign system to another relations must be created between corresponding structures in the different systems. The mechanisms of transcoding are examined for spoken and written speech, numeral words and figures, and tone symbols and musical notes. (SCC)