Explores the effectiveness of "word boxes" phonics instruction on beginning first-grade children's word identification and spelling performance. Finds that children in the word boxes condition significantly outperformed children in a more traditional phonics condition. Indicates that word boxes lessons can be a viable phonics approach to…

In Experiment 1, it was found that 5-year-old new school entrants taught by a synthetic phonics method had better reading, spelling and phonemic awareness than two groups taught analytic phonics. The synthetic phonics children were the only ones that could read by analogy, and they also showed better reading of irregular words and nonwords. For…

This book remains a comprehensive, myth-debunking examination of how L1 features (orthographic system, phonology, morphology) can influence English L2 reading at the "bottom" of the reading process. It provides a thorough but very accessible linguistic/psycholinguistic examination of the lowest levels of the reading process. It is both theoretical…

This book uses phonics to teach reading in a complete manual for beginning and remedial readers of all ages. The book builds sounds and spelling patterns slowly and systematically into syllables, phrases, and sentences of gradually increasing complexity, presenting only one sound per lesson--each new sound builds upon previously learned skills for…

Large differences exist among individuals in their ability to process speech sounds within syllables and words, and this ability is crucial for reading and spelling alphabetically beyond a very elementary level. The conception that speech is made up of segments (phonemes) is natural to those who read and spell alphabetically, but arguably: (1)…

CONFLICTING POINTS OF VIEW TOWARD SPELLING INSTRUCTION WERE DISCUSSED, AND A CRITIQUE OF THE PROBLEM WAS OFFERED. THE RESEARCH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PROBLEM OF OBTAINING COMPETENCY BY SPELLING GENERALIZATIONS (RULES) WAS PROVIDED. THE AUTHOR CAUTIONED AGAINST THE DANGER OF ASSUMING AN ALL-OR-NONE OR AN EITHER-OR STANCE BY POINTING OUT THE PITFALLS…

To make this report more readable for teachers and still present all the data, it was compiled in two parts: (1) Report to Teachers and (2) Technical Report. The investigation was conducted (1) to compare the longitudinal effects of the initial teaching alphabet (i.t.a.) and traditional orthography (T.O.) beginning reading programs through and end…

The advantages of teaching beginning reading with the use of the Initial Teaching Alphabet (i.t.a.) and some of the questions which are raised pertaining to its use are discussed. The difficulties which many children experience in learning to read with traditional orthography (T.O.) are pointed out. These include the variety of patterns for any…

This study to determine whether or not the teaching of selected lessons in syllabication would improve spelling achievement was conducted among fourth-grade pupils in 18 elementary schools in Modesto, California. There were three major steps to the experiment: (1) the administration of three pre-tests to both a control group (192 pupils) and an…

A result of a three-week reading institute at Northern Illinois University during the summer of 1974, this publication consists of papers focusing on various aspects of reading from a psycholinguistic perspective and strategy lessons to be used in the development of effective and efficient readers. The contents include five sections: "Moving to…

Reviews recent advances in linguistic analysis and how they relate to providing a sound foundation for spelling instruction. Presents the four stages of understanding of the structure of words that children should go through. Points out that spelling programs should focus on the logic of spelling. Includes an extensive list of references. (MD)

Boom! Br-r-ring! Cluck! Moo!--exciting sounds are everywhere. Whether visiting online sites that play sounds or taking a "sound hike," ask your students to notice the sounds they hear, then write their own book, using sound words, based on Dr. Seuss's "Mr. Brown Can MOO! Can You?" During the three 45-minute sessions, grade K-2…