This discussion on spelling and phonics focuses on beginning reading vocabulary (phonology and graphemics of high utility words), factors in word perception (their recognition in teaching word perception skills), premises and principles of phonics (their relation to curriculum content and to methods), phonic rules or spelling patterns (their…

This report, covering the period of January 1 to June 30, 1976, is one of a regular series on the status and progress of studies on the nature of speech, instrumentation for its investigation, and practical applications. The manuscripts and extended reports contained in this report include "Exploring the Relations between Reading and…

Goodman's hypothesis, that the task of learning to read is made more difficult as the divergence between the dialect of the learner and that of the material increases, raises three questions considered by the author to be central to the dialect/reading issue. The first asks what influence dialect has on acquiring reading ability; the second asks…

In learning the skills of reading and writing, it seems most probable that the child has to become aware of certain aspects of spoken language which he has not previously perceived. Although the child is capable of saying and hearing words and can easily tell them apart from other words, to spell them phonically he must understand the concept of…

This monograph reviews research into the desirability and possibility of applying the readiness concept to all stages of growth in reading and at all levels of maturation in the elementary school. Chapters include "Readiness for Reading," which analyzes physiological, intellectual, emotional, social, and experiential factors involved in…

Research shows that kindergarten children can and do learn to read, but many questions about early instruction remain unanswered. (MKM)

Explains ways in which a kindergarten teacher can encourage reading among children by sharing books with them; sharing ideas about the conventions of print, art and writing; and discussing children's ideas for pictures, stories, and writing. (BB)

Concludes that spelling-trained kindergarten children learned to read a set of words more effectively than controls. Argues that their greater success was not because they had learned to sound out and blend words, but rather because they had become better at phonetic cue reading. (FL)

Presents evidence that reading can be learned by the same informal and unstructured methods as speech, and calls for a concentration on slow readers. (CRH)

Describes how fifth grade students can help first graders develop their language skills and also teach other fifth graders how to tutor. Provides a list of picture books for use in the program. (FL)

Discusses the language experience approach (LEA) to teaching reading and offers suggestions for six types of LEA stories: student selected, class shared, shape, patterned, written dialogue, and directed language teaching. (FL)

Discusses the need for systematic exploration of claims about the advantages of language experience dictations; recommends that teachers guide the rereading and editing of early dictations to facilitate comprehending behaviors, and that they help children explore writing conventions as their dictations indicate a readiness to learn them. (ET)