Nineteen kindergarten children were pretested on readiness and blending tests and randomly assigned to a control or experimental group to determine if auditory blending skills were teachable and important in a beginning reading program. Following instruction in sequencing and blending sounds, the experimental group gained significantly in both…

Illustrates how it is possible for teachers to prepare children for reading without workbooks and formal texts. (FL)

A discrete-trial reaction time methodology was employed measuring speeds of skilled and less skilled readers in naming colors, pictures, numbers, letters, and words. Less skilled nondyslexic children don't exhibit a general name retrieval deficit; rather, research shows phonological analysis skills are integral in early reading acquisition.…

A review of the literature and research studies supports the psycholinguistic position regarding the acquisition of reading skills in that a positive correlation exists between the act of reading to children and their eventual reading achievements. (JN)

Because reading is a language-based skill and many communicatively handicapped youngsters experience difficulties with it, speech-language pathologists have important roles in assisting with reading development for these children. Suggestions are offered for use in speech-language sessions and with teachers or parents. (Author)

This literature review of home and family influences on the development of literacy is organized around the child in three major transactions: (1) child and environment; (2) child and ecology; and (3) child and family. (Author/GK)

Reports on a study that examined patterns and interrelationships in the development of print awareness over the preschool years with results indicating that preschool children do not acquire such skills and concepts in a fixed order. (MKM)

Presents a method of teaching children how to read using a constructive communicative technique. (MP)

Describes how children develop printed word knowledge when taught with a top-down, sentence-based approach. Cites four stages in word knowledge development: word as a nameable object in text; word as an object with a beginning element; word as an object with a discernible beginning and end; and word as an object with a beginning, middle, and end.…

The article examines assessment of phonological coding skills (considered important in in acquiring early word-reading skills) in young children. Although tests of memory span for digits, words, or letters are most commonly used, a combination of tasks including naming-rate and articulation-rate tasks are suggested. (Author/DB)

Measures the relationship between developmental maturity of kindergartners and their performance on a reading readiness test. Finds no significant differences in reading readiness based on age or sex. (RS)

Describes how to implement the technique called "Read a Book in an Hour" with children at the critical transition stage when they are faced with longer texts and fewer illustrations. Provides a list of books appropriate for teachers who wish to use the technique with upper primary students. (KEH)

Examined the use of kindergarten screening scores to predict whether a student would qualify for a reading intervention program in first grade. From a sample of 243 students, the scores of 121 students were subjected to logit regression analysis and the remaining 122 students were used as a holdout group. Concludes that the model could be used.…