Literacy instruction for students with significant intellectual disabilities traditionally emphasizes isolated skills instruction focusing on sight words and basic vocabulary. Recent research suggests these students benefit from high-quality instruction that includes comprehension and storybook reading. This study examined the effect of a…

This 41-item bibliography of word lists and reading and writing vocabularies includes such entries as "Basic Elementary Reading Vocabularies,""The Functional Reading Word List for Adults,""Sight Words for Beginning Reading," and "A Basic Vocabulary for Elementary School Children." (TS)

Sight word lists have been used since prior to 20 B.C. and have changed forms many times. Today sight word lists are numerous and are widely and variously used. They differ in source, intended purpose and/or audience, and criteria for including specific words. Despite the differences, there is much agreement that they do reflect the most basic…

After examining how Dolch developed his list of 220 basic sight words and identifying major criticisms of this list, the author reports two studies undertaken to revise the Dolch list. Five advantages of the revised Dolch list over the original are identified and discussed. The revised list is included. (Editor/SJL)

Examines the original validity of the 220-word Dolch Basic Sight Vocabulary, compiled in 1936, and considers whether it accounts for a large percentage of words in current reading usage. (BF)

Describes a strategy, useful in content area classes as well as English classes, which concentrates on using writing as a means of developing students' automatic ability to use basic sight vocabulary. (SR)

This booklet discusses a procedure to assist students experiencing difficulty in learning the "Dolch Basic Sight Vocabulary of 220 Words" and rearranges a list of 220 words to make it easier for students to learn. The procedure discussed in the booklet is based on the "word family" approach, in which words like "all call,…

The purpose of this study was to find the most effective method for teaching sight vocabulary to kindergarten children. The sample was selected from a surburban community which ranked above average with regard to education, income, and occupations as compared to the rest of the state and nation. One hundred and twenty white kindergarten children…

Presents two activities for building elementary school students' vocabulary skills and increasing their knowledge of phonics and spelling patterns. The primary activity involves word mapping. The intermediate activity helps students pronounce and understand unfamiliar, multisyllabic words. A reproducible page on vocabulary strategies is included.…

Focuses on the examination of pupil responses for grades two through four in a study that provides more recent information about the performance of pupils on the Dolch Test. Provides some observations to assist teachers in interpreting the result of pupil responses to these words. (MG)

Suggests a methodology, based on the highly successful model of English-as-a-second-language (ESL) literacy training, for teaching non-Latin alphabets such as Arabic. A holistic communication approach, presenting the alphabet as a key to learning the target language, helps learners to assimilate vocabulary more rapidly. (CB)