This independent quasi-experimental study conducted by WestEd reported that Lalilo had a large significant positive impact on students' oral reading fluency skills. This is an important outcome because fluency is both a critical component of literacy and a strong predictor of later reading success. Effects were particularly strong for students…

The phonics screening check (PSC) was introduced in England in 2012 for children in Year 1. There have been criticisms in relation to its reliability and appropriateness as an assessment tool for early reading although supporters of the PSC see it as a valuable tool in securing progress in reading. The DfE-funded evaluation concluded, however,…

Background: Beginning reading skills are often taught using phonics. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of phonics with typically developing students, but less research has evaluated this method with students with intellectual disabilities. Method: This paper evaluated the computerized phonics-based intervention Headsprout Early Reading®…

The effectiveness of a reading intervention using the whole-word multimedia software "Oxford Reading Tree (ORT) for Clicker" was compared to a reading intervention using traditional ORT Big Books. Developing literacy skills and attitudes towards learning to read were assessed in a group of 17 struggling beginner readers aged 5-6 years. Each child…

Reports the results of a case study measuring the impact of reading aloud to a first grader over a period of one year. Notes the student made substantial gains in reading and writing by the end of the school year, and that the student became a voracious reader of poetry. (NH)

Compares effectiveness of four different methods for acquiring initial reading vocabulary--onset plus vowel, rimes, phoneme segmentation and blending, and simple repetition of whole words. Finds that beginning nonreaders acquired the trained words fastest in the onset and rime conditions, and most slowly in the whole word condition. Finds the same…

Suggests that deficiencies in learning to read are in the flawed philosophy and method of beginning reading instruction rather than a deficiency in the individual. Implements a comprehensive program based on interpretations of reading teaching techniques from the 16th through the 19th century. Finds that children learned to spell, read, and…

A study determined the initial success of the Compacted Approach to Reading (CAR) program as measured at the end of the program's pilot year. Subjects were 21 first graders and 7 second graders in Tennessee identified and recommended by their first and second grade classroom teacher. The CAR program was developed based on concepts observed in the…

This scholarly journal, an official publication of the Reading Recovery Council of North America, provides an interdisciplinary forum on issues related to the acquisition of language, literacy development, and instructional theory and practice. Articles in Volume 7, Numbers 1 and 2 (comprising volume 7) are: "The Why? What? When? And How? of…

An action research project described a program for teaching students beginning reading strategies that will help them to become independent readers. The targeted population consisted of first grade elementary students in a growing middle class community located in a suburb of a large metropolitan area in the Midwest. The problems of beginning…

This report describes a program for improving reading skills of first graders. The targeted population consisted of a blue-collar community located in western Illinois. Many of the families had a language barrier. The problem of below grade level readers was documented through assessments and teacher observations. An examination of causes revealed…

A study investigated whether the practice of repeated reading enables first-grade children participating in a heterogeneous grouping model (which requires them to read difficult text) to acquire the fluency, accuracy, and understanding necessary to become independent readers. Subjects were four children from a public first-grade classroom in a…

Reading skills in a Midwestern suburban school are poorly developed. Evidence of the problem includes test scores, students' inability to read directions in text as reported by the teachers of the school, and oral reading performances by the students. This action research study describes methods for increasing active strategic reading as an…

A balanced, systematic, instructional reading program was designed to increase word recognition in beginning readers. The targeted population consisted of first graders in an upper middle class community located in the Chicago suburbs. The lack of word recognition was documented through assessments revealing students' phonemic awareness, reading…

Investigates the effectiveness of the Char-L Intensive Phonics program within a six-week summer tutorial program for students with learning problems. Finds significant gains in reading for most students and improved word attack skills for all students completing academic tasks requiring reading. (KEH)