Describes a teacher-research study of the reading acquisition of a second-grade student. Observes the social and instructional context of Amy's reading and her use of visual and non-visual information. Discusses patterns in Amy's text choice over 4 phases, patterns in strategy use, and teacher roles. Discusses this reader's self-extending system…

Forty-eight first-grade children with reading difficulties were taught 48 words using a whole-word method, a subword method for making connections between each color-coded spelling unit and its corresponding phonemes, or a combined whole-word and subword method. The subword method showed a reliable advantage on a test of real word reading.…

Explores the relation between preschool phoneme awareness and initial reading development. Confirms a significant impact of functional letter knowledge on the length of the foundation period and on later reading development. Argues that phonemic awareness is an indispensable catalyst in the development of initial word processing ability. (SG)

Examines the effectiveness of two computer programs designed to increase phonological awareness in young children. Finds that children who received computer-administered phonological awareness instruction and children who received teacher-delivered phonological awareness instruction showed a significant increase in phonological processing over…

The Phonics Demonstration Project was developed through the Ohio Department of Education as a means for introducing systematic, direct phonics instruction in the primary grades. Twenty-one Ohio school districts participated in the program. Initial year evaluation of the project focused on whether systematic, intensive phonics instruction was being…

To raise the spelling test scores of the lowest-level readers and poorest spellers in a third grade class, a practicum developed and implemented a spelling improvement program. Various strategies were implemented to allow for different learning modalities. Multi-sensory activities, computer managed instruction, and computer assisted instruction…

The acquisition of reading fluency crucially involves the beginning reader's tacit recognition that he or she must learn to compensate for the absence of graphic signals corresponding to certain prosodic cues by making better use of the morphological and syntactic cues that are preserved. The success of the method of repeated readings and similar…

This document is an English-language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) of a guide prepared by the National Pedagogic Institute for the teaching of reading and writing. The general principles in the guide will tend to unify first grade teaching methods. A brief presentation gives a description of the parts in which the guide is divided. (1)…

Details the methods used in a program designed to counsel parents of poor readers, including suggestions for ways parents can help their children with reading and for teaching methods they might use. Recent research findings concerning the effectiveness of educational counseling for parents are also presented. (FL)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact self-esteem had on reading with children of diverse reading levels using a modified reading program. Three students were targeted in the study. For the purpose of identification for this research, targeted students were assigned pseudonyms. The identities were completely anonymous to everyone…

This scholarly journal, an official publication of the Reading Recovery Council of North America, was established to provide an interdisciplinary forum on issues related to the acquisition of language, literacy development, and instructional theory and practice. Articles in Volume 5, Number 1 are: "Affinities and Contradictions: The Dynamics…

This report (together with a minority view and a dissenting view) presents the Reading Excellence Act (H.R. 2614). The act is designed to improve the reading and literacy skills of children and families by improving inservice instructional practices for teachers who teach reading, to stimulate the development of more high-quality family literacy…

A child's ability to read is at the very foundation of his or her learning in school and plays a significant role in scholastic success. Although no one literacy model can ever represent the range of diverse learners in our schools, Cunningham, Hall, and Defee's literacy model known as Four-Block attempts to meet the needs of as many learners as…

This report describes a program for improving sight word recognition and the ability to improve reading skills. The targeted population consists of a kindergarten class and a primary self-contained special education class. The schools are located in a large metropolitan city. The problem of poor sight-word recognition was documented with student…

The Summer Opportunity To Accelerate Reading (S.O.A.R.) program is the elementary summer school program to improve reading and literacy in the Austin Independent School District, Texas. In June 2000, the 21-day program served 2,406 students in grades 1 through 3 who were below grade level in reading or at risk of retention. The budget allocation…