A study examined the effects on 80 first graders' reading achievement when direct instructional phonics is incorporated as a supplement to a whole language approach. Two first-grade classrooms used the Houghton-Mifflin Integrated Literature Program, and two other classrooms supplemented the program with direct phonics instruction. Subjects…

Trains 94 first graders using a structured phonological reading method emphasizing English phonology and phoneme/grapheme correspondence. Compares to a control group who received a whole-language-plus-phonics approach. Notes that children in all groups improved their phonological awareness by the same amount. Concludes that phonological awareness…

Presents evidence of learning outcomes in reading from the use of software incorporating two very different styles of learning, structured sub-skills tutoring (using an Integrated Learning System) versus free reading (using a talking book), but which both heavily exploit multimedia presentation. Shows that current debates about whole-word versus…