Examined the efficacy of the McCarthy Scales as a predictor of reading readiness and achievement in a kindergarten sample (N=33). Results confirmed the predictive validity of the McCarthy Scales and suggested that, for this sample, visual discrimination and sequential ability skills may have been more important factors than verbal abilities.…

Notes that humor and hope can produce an interest in reading and writing in children. Presents ideas for developing interest in language arts as well as suggested poems, picture books, and beginning chapter books. Also includes classroom suggestions for developing the four needs of beginning writers: ideas, words, structures, and spelling. (LBT)

Prepared by teachers in a summer course, this handbook presents brief descriptions of various aspects of reading instruction and related lesson plans and class activities. Sections of the handbook discuss readiness, word recognition, word meaning/vocabulary, comprehension, and reading in the content areas. The handbook also offers brief…

The premise of this book is that parents should help their child learn to read at home in order to individualize reading skill instruction better than may be possible at school alone. A reading readiness checklist is offered as a guide to determining if one's child is linguistically, behaviorally, and perceptually ready to begin to learn to read.…

In order to achieve literacy, children must have mastered the decoding and encoding processes of the language of instruction. Usually this has been accomplished long before the child enters school. However, if the child's language is atypical for any reason, such as cultural or linguistic factors, then the acquisition of literacy requires a…

Statistics from research studies indicate that boys have more difficulty than girls in learning to read. As a result, changes being made in the educational system are aimed at adapting early instruction to the individual needs and capacities of boys as well as girls. This booklet focuses on past research on sex differences in reading achievement,…

This monograph reviews research into the desirability and possibility of applying the readiness concept to all stages of growth in reading and at all levels of maturation in the elementary school. Chapters include "Readiness for Reading," which analyzes physiological, intellectual, emotional, social, and experiential factors involved in…

Two groups of fourth-grade boys, one group reading at grade level or above, the other reading below grade level, were selected for this study. All boys in both groups had scored at the 30th percentile or below on a kindergarten reading-readiness test. The mothers of these boys were interviewed to assess their participation, instigation, and level…

Reports on some of the advantages--language creativity, applied phonics, and integrated skills--for the South African Indian children learning to read and write with the Language Experience Approach. (MB)

Provides information concerning the value of letter names in the teaching of reading and spelling. Presents specific discussions about the importance of letter names to prereading phonics abilities, the phonemic values in letter names, and the use of letter names in word analysis, semantic word recognition, and semantic spelling. (MKM)

Reviews research on children's comprehension monitoring skills. Discusses implications of research findings for the classroom. Describes procedures for assessing children's comprehension monitoring. Outlines how monitoring strategies can best be taught. Discusses children's readiness for monitoring instruction. (RS)

This elementary reading curriculum guide is designed to provide a well-rounded program of reading instruction and includes the following components: a philosophy of elementary education, behavioral objectives, and characteristics of children of age 5 through age 15. The bulk of the document consists of plans which describe appropriate activities…

An attempt to build on oral language programs--such as the language experience approach--by adding a written language component and a phonics component, to make transition to reading more meaningful and reading skill development more systematic, was undertaken in the study described here. The program, called DIREKT, was conducted by two…

Standardized reading achievement tests are at best a reflection of the prevailing approaches and attitudes toward reading and the teaching of reading. Reading, however, is a very personal skill; people read best what they want to read. (Author)