This guide is one in a series of thematic units designed especially for deaf and hard of hearing children in kindergarten through elementary grades. The series is grounded on the principle that language instruction for these children needs to be repetitive, visual, and taught in a myriad of contexts. It utilizes the language experience approach…

Describes how The 14th Dragon,'' a children's book, can be used to stimulate the student's imagination in an experience approach to language and reading. (MM)

Eight steps are outlined for presenting a combined science/language experience unit to primary students, in which the children observe and discuss a phenomenon and dictate a group report. Sample projects with fossils, magnets, and air pressure are described. (SJL)

The 23 articles chosen for this anthology of Yetta M. Goodman's writings were chosen based on historical importance, centrality to her body of work, availability, and/or ongoing relevance to teachers. The articles in the anthology are grouped to reflect major themes (culture and community; miscue analysis, reading strategies, and comprehension;…

Describes ways to accelerate reading and language skills by experience stories, creative writing, and books. (TO)

Noting that a gap exists between desired and actual literacy levels in the United States, this paper argues that the issue of literacy should be addressed holistically. Proposing that the communication skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking are integrated and support each other, the paper reviews research indicating the…

Maintaining that sentence-combining language experience is the single most beneficial tool currently available to improve student writing, this paper speculates about the value and effects of the adoption of the language experience approach across the English curriculum. It presents six tasks that need to be undertaken by teachers, researchers,…

This joint statement expresses concerns about present practices in pre-first grade reading instruction and makes recommendations for improvement. The statement was prepared by seven organizations concerned with preschool education and/or reading instruction. (BD)

Considers the use of sociodramatic play to help preschool children with their literacy development. Describes and assesses the Scrapbook Project at a university laboratory preschool. In this project, children dictate stories to their teacher, choose props to illustrate their stories, and act out their stories. (BB)

The psychological and linguistic rationales for an integrative approach to teaching reading and language that is based on the language experience and shared book approaches are presented, and the necessary changes in the Singapore educational system are outlined. Because the program is an integrated language arts approach, reading instruction time…

Intended for the language arts teacher, this book focuses on how to develop children's language skills. The opening chapter of the book presents a brief overview of child language acquisition, children's language abilities at a particular age, and how these abilities develop. The second chapter, on the importance of children's literature, is based…

A FIRST-GRADE LISTENING SKILLS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO BE TAUGHT AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM AND TO IMPROVE ACHIEVEMENT IN LISTENING AND READING. THE COMPONENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR THE EXPERIMENT ARE SPECIFIED. THIRTY-THREE CLASSROOMS IN 22 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY PARTICIPATED. THE TREATMENT GROUPS WERE A…

Describes an intensive integrated art and language arts instructional program for first-grade at-risk children. Notes that a combination of whole language, language experience, and basal reading approaches. Finds a marked improvement in reading, writing ability, and language ability. (RS)

This 34-item annotated bibliography examines the literature concerning language experience in the following areas: (1) the rationale for incorporating language arts in the primary classroom; (2) whether using language experience aids the child in developing reading strategies; (3) the achievement scores of children using language experience; (4)…