Argues that the way reading is taught to the youngest children sets the stage for their future learning. Notes that recent research shows that some basal readiness activities are better avoided or postponed. (FL)

Describes a reading program for disadvantaged students that utilizes the child's background and experiences and language in beginning reading instruction. (TO)

Suggests a variation on the language experience approach designed for groups of nonverbal children. (MKM)

Examined the strategies employed by 30 Israeli preschool children when identifying noncommercial print appearing in their kindergartens. Found that 5-year olds, but not 4-year olds, attended to print rather than to contextual cues. Results point to a causal role for alphabetic and phonological skills in the development of preschool word…

Oral responses of black youngsters are no more limited than those of whites. (JH)

Oral language development, the single most important factor in determining readiness for reading, may be enhanced through creative drama, especially role playing. Role playing is spontaneous play which traditionally has served many purposes, including promoting socialization. It can also be a unique method of recreating historical episodes in…

An explanation of the child's mind and his language, stated in terms of the nature of the learner, is presented in this book. The authors ask teachers to think about the competence of the child and try to discover what he must know to be able to read. They ask teachers to examine the nature of the learner--what he knows that enables him to learn…

One of the twelve exemplary programs summarized in the Introduction to Right to Read's "Effective Reading Programs: Summaries of 222 Selected Programs" (CS001934), this program serves disadvantaged, inner-city preschool children who score at or below the twenty-fifth percentile on a preschool inventory. Children attend kindergarten for…

Presented are 11 papers given at a study institute on oral language skills antecedent to reading for educators of the speech, hearing, and learning disabled. Doris Johnson, in a paper entitled "Interrelationships Between Auditory Disorders and Higher Levels of Learning", stresses the importance of auditory comprehension for language development. A…

The software "Breakthrough to Literacy" was introduced in kindergarten classrooms in a suburban school district in 1999 and focuses on oral language development. Through observations, the author studied the effects the software had on individual children's oral language and pre-reading readiness skills. Along with reading skill development, oral…

Briefly lists the stages of early language development, compares normal with abnormal language development, and explores characteristics of language impaired school age children. Specific diagnosis and teaching examples are also provided. (TO)