Noting that the word "phonics" has become so politically charged that it is probably the most widely misunderstood and misrepresented aspect of language education today, this book takes a fresh look at the debate about the use of phonics in reading instruction. After defining phonics, the book addresses the science, teaching, and…

This paper explores the conflict between instruction that characterizes Chapter 1 programs (which appear to advocate segmentation, isolated skills instruction, and other curricular incongruencies with the core reading classroom) and instruction that results from whole language philosophy. The paper maintains that the conflict may be due to a…

A study investigated the decoding automaticity of elementary students when receiving rule-based instruction (as a process of applying syllable and structural analysis rules and limited phonics), and when receiving holistic instruction in a whole language program (exercises in listening, reading and writing, integrated with classroom instruction…

Contains a historical view of decoding and discusses what it means for teachers of phonics. (RB)

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of 30 learning disabled students (7 to 13 years old) who were taught with a set of phonics instructional materials based on the learning principles of providing focus, learning to master, distributed practice and review, discrimination training, and training for transfer. Goals of instruction were…

The production of a basic kindergarten through grade six word set, with accompanying linguistic data for use in the development of elementary communication skills instruction, is detailed in this report. Section one outlines the compilation of the 10,000 word lexicon, including a discussion of the form of the entries, the sources for the entry and…

A total of 72 motorically or nonmotorically impaired, learning disabled, elementary grade children were given tasks of auditory synthesis and analysis to determine possible differences. Ss were asked to either separate sounds of a word (analysis) or blend sounds into a word (synthesis). Results indicated that nonmotorically impaired children were…

Describes the current situation in phonics instruction, citing recent studies supporting its effectiveness. (FL)

Describes the phonic/analytic/syntactic method used for teaching reading in grades one through four in Cuba. (AEA)

Reflects on a small-scale survey of nine schools in England where results of the National Curriculum test in spelling were particularly high. Discusses common approaches among the schools, including the teaching of spelling patterns and phonics; the fostering of early independence in writing and reading; and the regular learning of spelling at…

Considers how good phonics instruction should encourage children to recognize rimes and to identify an unfamiliar word by blending its onset with the rime that follows. Discusses seven conclusions/implications for phonics software derived from research into phonics instruction. (SG)

Considers how public opinion and entire theories of teaching reading are based in the false Just So story--Just Sound Out, and you can read. Explains why sounding out is a handicap. Suggests a better alternative, teaching by recognizing words. (SG)

Summarizes role of language deficiencies in reading disability, focusing on two areas that appear critical to reading skill: language processing abilities and the awareness of phonological structure. Shows distinguishing characteristics of disabled readers to be consistent with theoretical and experimental findings about skilled reading, and to…

Because both whole language and traditional skill-based instruction have strengths, educators should use a combined approach that includes direct instruction in phonics and reading comprehension skills along with whole language instruction. (Author/TE)

Criticizes Marie Carbo's article, "Debunking the Great Phonics Myth" (in Kappan's November 1988 issue), for waging a relentless debate against phonics and falsely attributing low U.S. reading achievement scores to a phonics emphasis. Clears up confusions and inaccuracies in Carbo's article concerning first and second editions of the…