A new computer assisted instructional program designed to increase decoding fluency in reading was evaluated for use with 20 learning disabled elementary grade children. After 10 weeks of daily 15-minute practice sessions, subjects showed substantial improvement on words practiced, words never practiced, and reading speed and accuracy. (Author/DB)

Considers how good phonics instruction should encourage children to recognize rimes and to identify an unfamiliar word by blending its onset with the rime that follows. Discusses seven conclusions/implications for phonics software derived from research into phonics instruction. (SG)

Reports results from one- and two-year follow-up tests for children with reading problems who had previously received 25 hours of training in one of two computer-based remediation programs. Finds children initially trained in phonological skills made greater gains in phonological awareness, phonological decoding, and untimed word recognition at…

Explains the use of experimental poetry forms for decoding practice to help develop reading skills in elementary school students. The use of computers for word processing capabilities is discussed; seven forms of poetry are described; and results are examined in terms of motivation and the development of literacy. (four references) (LRW)

The primary task of all teachers at all grade levels in all disciplines should be to identify the poor reader and find assistance for that student. "Sink or swim" thinking, which permits nonreaders to advance through the school grade hierarchy and into society, must be phased out of the educational consciousness of the nation. Recent research has…

A computer assisted instruction system for drilling educationally handicapped children in word decoding skills is described. A theoretical rationale for the objectives and design of the system, based on research from the psychology of reading literature, is discussed. In addition, certain system design constraints, applied in order to accommodate…

Investigates the effectiveness of a computer program that pronounces words for Scandinavian students with word decoding problems. Finds that second-grade children did not perform better on a reading comprehension test when using computer-aided reading and that older students benefited more than younger students. Discusses reasons for letting the…

This paper describes studies at the University of Colorado, where children with reading problems read stories/books on talking computers using DECtalk. Supported by accurate word feedback, the children's word recognition and phonological decoding have improved. Projects using computer speech programs in a spelling program, home-based reading…

Recent cognitive analyses of the reading process indicate that learning disabled children with word decoding problems will be limited in the development of higher level reading comprehension skills. Microcomputer technology affords the repetitive word recognition practice necessary for successful decoding. (JC)

A case study with two Finnish 10-year-old boys evaluated an intervention designed to promote the spelling skills of students with severe writing difficulties. The intervention comprised strategy instruction, procedural facilitation, and computer-assisted tutoring. Participants showed gains in spelling accuracy, spelling revision skills, decoding…

The efforts to develop and study the effects of a microcomputer program to enhance children's decoding and word recognition skills are described in this paper. The first section of the paper discusses theory and research in the area of cognitive psychology upon which the program, "Construct a Word," is based. The second section describes…

This study compared the effectiveness of two computer-based techniques for improving word recognition automaticity in children with mild reading difficulties. One of the techniques provided practice in identifying individual words out of context, while the other technique, referred to as repeated reading, provided practice reading specific words…