Three studies were conducted to examine whether printed cues conveying information about spoken intonation patterns would aid beginning readers in synthesizing printed words into spoken sentences. To represent intonation patterns, words were printed in three sizes corresponding to stress-pitch levels, and spacing between phrase boundaries was…

The number of packages--kits, games, computer discs, audiotapes, and videotapes--offering phonics instruction is growing almost daily. These commercial packages are marketed to parents to use with their children or to teachers and school districts as supplements to classroom programs of reading instruction. This booklet outlines questions which…

A nationwide sample of kindergarten classes in over 2,000 schools provided information on their use of the SWRL/Ginn Kindergarten Program for the second consecutive year, 1975-76. Replicating an initial inquiry, the data showed that (1) high overall levels of outcome proficiency can be reliably attained in kindergarten reading instruction; (2)…

Selections from the last three basal reading series produced by the Houghton Mifflin Company were examined to determine what improvements were made. One of the fundamental changes occurring in the 1971 revision ("Readers") was the replacement of grade designations with numerical levels that provided a better match between student and…

The eight popular commercial reading programs examined in this study were selected on the basis of their use with compensatory education students and the fact that they represent different instructional approaches. The study examined how readers are taught to break the letter/sound code, what correspondences are taught, and how correspondences are…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of the Success in Beginning Reading and Writing (SBRW) program which is based on the philosophy that children should be taught to read and write using materials they will rely on later in life. Subjects, four teachers and 48 students in the SBRW program and five teachers and 50 students in a Holt Basic Reading…

The extent and direction of curriculum bias in standardized reading achievement tests were examined. Bias was estimated by comparing the relative overlap in the contents of five separate reading achievement tests with the contents of seven commercial reading series at first-grade and second-grade levels. Overlap between each achievement test and…

A 2-year study was conducted in 1965-67 for the following purposes: (1) to evaluate the materials and techniques of a new beginning reading program, Listen Look Learn (LLL) Multi-Media Communication Skills System, in order to make revisions where necessary and (2) to compare the LLL system in its formative stage with that of basal reader programs.…

To develop and test materials to be used in a later 2-year study to compare six approaches in teaching braille reading, materials in grade 1 and grade 2, braille, and phonemic braille media (both analytic and synthetic approaches), 39 subjects from six residential schools were evaluated. Special books were embossed in grade 1 and phonemic braille,…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of the Success in Beginning Reading and Writing (SBRW) program which is based on the philosophy that children should be taught to read and write using materials they will rely on later in life. Subjects, 59 students involved in the SBRW program, were given the California Achievement Tests as pre- and posttests.…

The New Approach Method (NAM) is an innovative reading program relying heavily on a phonics approach. The mode of presentation is a cassette tape recorder, which the child is taught to operate at the beginning of the program. The NAM lessons were administered to children at four NAM mini centers; a group of parents administered the NAM lessons to…

This What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) topic report addresses reading interventions for students in grades K-3, including core reading curricula, programs, or products to be used as supplements to other reading instruction, programs that focus on staff development, and literacy software. The WWC review on beginning reading focuses on programs…