Forty middle-class American mothers and their preschool children were observed in a narrative activity which involved telling a story using the Berenstain Bears Play Set as a stimulus. The goal of the study was to examine the presence of story grammar elements in both maternal and preschool narratives. In addition, the study sought to explore the…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between performance on Piagetian conservation tasks and the ability to form hypotheses as to the probable content of story material among first and second grade children. Cognitive operations selected for comparison were operations concerning conservation of mass, conservation of…

The relation between first grade teachers' stated confidence in the predictability of reading readiness test scores and their pupils' achievement in beginning reading was the basis of this study. The experiment required (1) a survey of 341 first grade teachers to obtain a measure of their stated confidence in reading readiness test scores as…

Reviews the literature in the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) on how television influences the reading behavior of children. (RB)

This project report describes pilot programs of the Ames Community School District for two school years, 1973-74 and 1974-75. The purposes of the pilot programs were to ascertain whether objectives were met, to consider the appropriateness of activities and materials, to determine the validity of the test measure, to assess the degree to which…

This pamphlet of behavioral objectives for teachers of elementary school reading instruction was compiled by the Mesa Public School System, Mesa, Arizona. Terminal goals are stated behaviorally for prereading and readiness skills, which include comprehension, interests in letters and books, visual perception, and psychomotor awareness. Terminal…

Considers the ways in which the processes involved in learning to read are inherent in art and music experiences; discusses visual arts activities as catalysts for vocabulary development, sensory control, and close observation; and provides an overview of such music activities as folk singing as motivaters for reading. (JL)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of teacher expectations on first-grade reading achievement. Rankings of reading readiness were collected from 26 classroom teachers before and after falsified reading readiness scores were presented to them. From 536 first graders, 32 high socioeconomic status with low reading readiness status…

Suggestions for various activities, games, and materials for teaching phonics are presented in this handbook for teachers and teachers in training. The chapters and materials covered include: (1) "Why Phonics," which presents the rationale for teaching phonics; (2) "A Suggested Order for Teaching Phonics," which discusses the order of difficulty…

This book is a collection of 571 activities to reinforce reading skills. The rationale for each skill is presented as an introduction to each skill area. The rationales explain (1) why the skill needs to be reinforced, (2) how to understand the skill, and (3) what the child should be able to do after completing the activities. Chapter 1 discusses…

The activities and skills in this guide are designed to improve the listening skills and spoken language of the preschool and primary grade child. Divided into two sections--reading readiness and the reading process--the guide provides skills, suggested activities, and evaluation criteria and methods for teaching listening, speaking, the thought…

This book was written to answer the questions most frequently asked by teachers who need information and suggestions in specific areas of reading. The material is organized in three main sections: readiness and beginning reading, intermediate reading, and reading for the academically or culturally different child. Each section includes study…

This guide is intended for teachers interested in helping preschool and kindergarten children make discoveries about the reading process. The guide focuses specifically on ways teachers can build written words into children's dramatic play through the use of symbolic props-materials which either contain written words or invite children to create…

This book is a compilation of articles that are related to reading instruction. The materials covered in the seventeen chapters are: "Perspectives on Reading,""The Psychology and Psycholinguistics of Reading,""Reading Readiness,""Beginning Reading,""Measuring Reading Outcomes and Determining Needs,""Grouping for Effective Reading…

This document discusses the role of parents and the role of the community at large in the reading development and improvement of children. One way parents can assist in reading improvement is by surrounding their children with language from their earliest years. Nancy Larrick, in her "Parent's Guide to Children's Reading," suggests that parents…