In discussing word recognition, Kenneth Goodman argues that preoccupation with words, leters, and sounds cuts off children from the meaning-seeking function of reading; that oral and written language are parallel modes of obtaining meaning from language; and that reading is a selective rather than a precise process of word perception. A review of…

Three scanning/encoding training conditions were compared with a control condition in transfer tasks involving learning and recognizing six minimally contrasting, single-syllable word-like forms. The scanning/encoding treatments failed to differ from the controls in prereading kindergarteners, which was attributed to the difficulty of the transfer…

An instructional system designed to implement the objectives of the Southwest Regional Laboratory (SWRL) Reading Program is currently under development. This document defines the program objectives, content, content sequence, and pedagogical strategies for each outcome area. A description of the program's instructional activities, their sequence,…

This paper presents procedures and techniques for teaching comprehension skills to middle school students. Comprehension is described in terms of four skill areas: word meaning, structure, literal and inferential thinking, and critical reading. To help students think as they read, a strategy is proposed which involves a logical sequencing of all…

Seventy-two university students were exposed to one of four repetition treatments for one of three different amounts of information presented in a chunked format. Implicit chunk repetition, i.e., the presentation of words not present in the original word list but logically belonging to a previously seen chunk, facilitated acquisition and retention…

Recommends teaching both mental imagery (an unobtrusive, natural text processing strategy) and summarizing (an efficient text reorganization strategy) to students who do not spontaneously use them. (NKA)

Determined the strategies adults used as they read. Results revealed two stages of reading development: (1) a reliance equally on print and language based strategies with no integration of the two, and (2) increased ability to use language knowledge to integrate and predict as they read. (SRT)

This article reports some cautions to consider when too much emphasis is placed on phonic instruction, especially with adolescent and adult learners. The importance of developing automaticity in word identification and fluency in reading rate is discussed. Six specific procedures designed to improve reading fluency are outlined. (Author/CT)

Concludes that the keyword method is effective means of vocabulary learning in the college classroom. (FL)

Examines the use of color as a visual teaching aid in the foreign language classroom, assisting English-speaking children learning Spanish. In the area of phonology, color can be used to highlight difficulties in pronunciation, showing similarities and differences with some English cognate. (SL)

This digest summarizes what is known about teaching the processes of phonological awareness and word recognition. It finds unequivocal research evidence that students who enter first grade with phonological awareness skills are more successful readers and urges explicit instruction in these skills. Examples of phonological awareness activities and…