Tired of assigning weekly spelling lists that students memorize for the test only to have them misspell the words in their daily writing? Then join Max Brand in his fifth-grade classroom where word learning is integrated fully into literacy workshops. Using spelling investigations, word study notebooks, reading logs, and writers' notebooks,…

Examines the error patterns of 26 third grade developmental readers who read and reread extended oral passages at instructional and frustration performance levels. Suggests that consistent word recognition strategies are used by these developmental readers. (RL)

Investigates the long-term effects of daily training sessions in word analysis (phoneme isolation or positional treatment versus phoneme segmentation or sequential treatment) on 10 first grade classes in Norway. Concludes that both forms of phonological training had a facilitating effect on reading and spelling. Suggests that lower ability…

Developed by the ABCs of Construction National Workplace Literacy Project, this fifth-grade level module teaches strategies for finding the meanings of compound words used in technical writing encountered by pipefitters. It also addresses working with words in context and finding definitions with a dictionary. Four exercises are provided. (YLB)

A project titled "Word of Mouth" was conducted to develop and evaluate model computer courseware to teach word attack skills to adult basic education students. The project was based on the use of multiple strategies to figure out unknown words, the importance of breaking down multisyllabic words, and the necessity of the use of audio in…

Horizontal instruction techniques used to improve reading skills were tested with 63 limited-English-speaking, Spanish-dominant high school students. The students were divided into four groups. Two experimental groups received instruction in how to infer the main idea of a paragraph through sequential lessons in classification skills. Two control…

The skills and concepts described in this kindergarten through grade eight reading program guide emphasize the following: (1) teachers' expectations for and attitudes toward students affect student performance, (2) students' self-concepts and expectations are related to their achievement, (3) children learn in different ways and at different…

To determine if dance/movement is an effective method for teaching word analysis skills and to encourage creativity, a study examined 69 students from four kindergarten classrooms and 63 students from three second-grade classrooms. Students in each class were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Treatment 1 groups received a…

This practicum addressed the problem of eighth-grade U.S. history students who did not acquire nor retain the necessary course core vocabulary. This lack of vocabulary acquisition resulted in reduced student performance, lack of understanding, and a poor attitude. The goals were: (1) to increase the student's U.S. history core vocabulary level;…

Teachers working with a language experience approach to reading may use word-sorting activities as a means of exploring the letter/sound concepts and semantic concepts that children are forming. Using words that are already in a child's reading vocabulary, words that the child has made into sight vocabulary, and words that the child has requested…

As this report explains, the Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction (ECRI) has developed a reading program that teaches 16 skills involved in reading, spelling, listening, thinking, and writing. Daily records are kept of each child's progress. This report shows how the ECRI program can be adapted for use with a basal text. It provides detailed,…

Designed as an aid to teachers who are planning, implementing, or modifying a spelling program, this guide lists 95 games and activities for enhancing student attitudes and reinforcing the development of specific skills. The activities provide work on phonics, vocabulary development, the dictionary (alphabetization), imagery, proofreading, and…

The purpose of this guide is to assist Latin and English teachers who have some background in Latin to expand the English vocabulary and reading skills of pupils through the study of Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. The lessons are designed also to familiarize pupils with aspects of classical culture, specifically sports and games, and to…

Since the mastery of any subject matter depends on learning its key concepts--its language--content area teachers should use innovative vocabulary development exercises to help their students master the language of the subject area. Teachers should try to coordinate vocabulary study with other learning tasks instead of depending on dull,…

The reaction times (RTs) of 48 elementary school students in two word identification tasks were recorded to gauge the effects of orthographic and phonic structures. The subjects, high ability and low ability students from grades four and five and from grades two and three, either matched a word to one of two pictures on display or decided if a…