There are 26 letters in the English language. These letters, in various combinations, represent the 44 sounds in the language. Teaching students the basic letter-sound combinations gives them access to sounding out approximately 84% of the words in English print. There needs to be equal amounts of time need to be spent on teaching the meanings of…

There is a considerable and growing body of research investigating reading development in children with Down syndrome. However, there appears to be a common gap between the research evidence and instructional practices. It has been argued that teachers have insufficient information to enable them to implement effective literacy instruction with…

In the action research project report, the teacher researchers found that many kindergarten and first-grade students did not have the reading readiness skills to be reading at their benchmark target. The purpose of the project was to improve the students overall reading ability. The dates of the project began on September 8 through December 20,…

This book discusses the background and origins of reading problems, including poor reading instruction and frustrations of different instructional methods. The book presents a complete method for teaching basic skills needed in reading. Part 1 (What Every Parent Should Know about Learning To Read) contains the chapters: "Does My Child Have a…

This article briefly summarizes what is known about how phonological awareness fits into the beginning reading process and effective methods for teaching phonological awareness. Special difficulties with phonological awareness of children with learning disabilities or from culturally diverse backgrounds are noted. (DB)

Article suggests certain tasks must be performed before a pupil can learn to read. What these tasks are depends upon whether teaching method is analytic--introducing words as whole units to be broken down--or synthetic--introducing individual written signs as sounds, to be built up into meaningful units. (RW)

Discusses various controversial issues in reading and suggests that most methods and materials in reading instruction are appropriate and useful in specific situations. References. (VJ)

A year-long, quasi-experimental study investigated the comparative effects of a whole language approach and a code emphasis approach upon the emergent literacy of 53 girls in two kindergarten classes in an all girls' parochial school in the Northeast. Subjects in the experimental class received instruction in Holdaway's Shared Book Experience…

A DESCRIPTION IS MADE OF AN ATTEMPT TO APPLY TO FIRST GRADE READING INSTRUCTION THE IDEA THAT CHILDREN CAN BENEFIT WHEN THE TEACHING OF READING IS ADAPTED TO THEIR COGNITIVE STYLE. PRETESTING WAS DONE TO DISCOVER THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN LEARNING APTITUDES, AND THE TEACHING PROCEDURE WAS MODIFIED TO EMPHASIZE COMPARATIVELY STRONG ABILITIES.…

A small-group procedure for teaching consonant sounds was tested in two studies with rural kindergarten and first-grade students whose teachers had been trained to use the procedure by means of a videotape model and a live demonstration. In the first study, done at the end of the 1974-1975 school year, the kindergarten and first-grade participants…

This study examined the effects of two programs which differed in the methods they employed to develop reading readiness. The two methods represented were a language experience approach and a phonics approach. The subjects were children from kindergarten classes in two elementary schools in Flint, Michigan. All subjects were randomly assigned…

This book provides specific, practical suggestions for the classroom teacher, covering the whole of the elementary school reading program. Chapters include "Teaching Reading,""Instructional Materials,""Organizing for Instruction,""Oral and Silent Reading,""Readiness for Reading,""Preschool Reading,""Reading in the Kindergarten,""Whole Word…

A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF ATTENDING AN 8-WEEK HEADSTART PROGRAM DURING THE SUMMER PRIOR TO THE FIRST GRADE ON THE FIRST-GRADE READING ACHIEVEMENT OF 152 PUPILS IN SCOTT COUNTY, KENTUCKY, INDICATED A NEED FOR A CLASSROOM CONTINUATION OF THE EXPERIENCE APPROACH IN READING METHODS. AT THE OPENING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE HEADSTART PUPILS WERE MIXED IN…

This book reviews research on the teaching of elementary reading and summarizes the research in such a way as to make it useful to the elementary school teacher. A number of methods and procedures of instruction are considered. The first chapter discusses when to begin reading and general topics related to teaching young children, and the second…

This book was written to answer the questions most frequently asked by teachers who need information and suggestions in specific areas of reading. The material is organized in three main sections: readiness and beginning reading, intermediate reading, and reading for the academically or culturally different child. Each section includes study…