Chapters of this book on diagnostic-prescriptive reading instruction examine such topics as defining reading, language and reading, reading comprehension, assessing student progress and needs, visual and auditory discrimination and perception, visual memory of words, decoding word symbols, primary reading, creating interest in reading, critical…

This study, part of a larger Comparing Reading Approaches in First-Grade Teaching (CRAFT) Project, was concerned with the subsequent reading performances of disadvantaged urban black children who were identified as having some word recognition ability at the time they entered first grade. All the children in this study, early readers as well as…

This occasional publication presents three articles: "The identification of children needing compensatory education," which reviews critically some of the major research findings on approaches used in identifying the disadvantaged, and suggests that the designation of educational priority areas perhaps may not necessarily be the best…

Chapters in this volume discuss the problems that teachers, parents, and librarians face in encouraging elementary school children to read and suggest ways to improve student motivation and reading ability in this age of mass media. "Sparking the Fuse for Literacy" defines the complex term "literacy," and examines the effects of the media on…

This paper reviews the literature concerning preschool experiences which affect reading development. An attempt is made to isolate and describe experiences which, according to research, enhance reading achievement. Since 1960, many different early childhood education programs have been developed for educationally disadvantaged children. An…

Presents results of a study indicating that what young readers say when they first read is influenced by their previous experiences with books, the structure of the text, and also the accompanying illustrations. Points out implications for reading to young children, and for choosing early texts. (SKC)

Recent research on reading reveals many methods work for teaching reading. There are three individual reading styles: (1) those who need phonics, (2) those who can learn it but don't need it, and (3) those unable to learn phonics. The level of reading achievement depends on how well instructional program accommodates to an individual's reading…

Reviews research findings on ability grouping. Attempts to document the mechanisms through which stratification in schools influences student achievement, focusing on within-classroom ability grouping in 12 first grade classes. Results indicate that grouping has no direct effect on reading achievement by the end of the year. (JDH)

Relates the belief that "shared reading" using big books will provide children with a meaningful introductin to reading. (DF)

This issue focuses on the developmental path that children typically take when learning to read. The purpose is to help parents take steps to ensure that their children will make the transition from learning to read to reading to learn by the end of third grade. An introductory section includes two articles: "Parents, Children, and…

A measure was developed to assess kindergarten children's interest in reading, and information about their home and school environments was collected. High-reading-interest children were read to more frequently, watched less television, and had more books at home. School factors are also discussed. (Author/PP)

Argues that concepts of literacy develop gradually and that in a natural language environment, saturated with good stories, meaningful conversation, and abundant writing materials, the process can begin even before a child goes to school. (FL)

Argues that observations of how children construct literacy and their responses to print-filled environments will help child care providers and families be better prepared to support children's emergent literacy. Provides advice on literacy development, supporting emergent literacy, developing positive attitudes toward reading, and developing…

To examine the effects of whole language and language experience approaches on beginning reading achievement, a quantitative synthesis was performed on two databases: 5 first-grade studies of the United States Office of Education and 46 additional studies comparing basal reading approaches to whole language and language experience approaches. (SLD)