Reading research and reading instruction can each be grouped in two distinct categories, depending on the assumed source of control for the particular reading act that is studied or taught. "Outside-in" theorists view the reading process as beginning with print and ending with some representation or interpretation inside the brain, while…

This book presents a method of teaching letter sounds to children; it suggests ways for the elementary teacher or parent to involve children physically, as well as mentally, in the learning process. For example, to learn the letter "Y," children stand with outstretched arms to form themselves into the letter Y; to learn the "Z" sound, children…

In order to equalize educational opportunities, individualized instruction in the beginning reading program is suggested. Children should have equal opportunity but not identical instruction. Reading readiness, as determined by reading skills, and reading interest should determine when instruction begins, whether it is kindergarten or the third…

Progress in a primary-grade reading program was determined for 106 first-born, second-grade students at the end of the school year. Previous data available for this sample included Thomas-Chase-Birch temperament ratings, family intactness and socioeconomic status at age four, and Metropolitan Readiness Test scores at age six. The value of these…

Children are ready to learn to read when they are young and enjoy learning to read when they understand each step in the reading process, so that their cognitive growth is significatnly stimulated. This book presents the structural approach to teaching both reading readiness skills and reading and points out that teachers and parents must…

This paper develops a rationale for a three dimensional model of nonintellectual behavior of children and supports the rationale with a review of relevant theoretical and empirical work. The tenability of the model and its relationship to early reading achievement is then explored. Dimensions derived from a cluster analysis of the "Pupil Behavior…

This paper describes the results of a behavioral analysis of learning sequences used in initial instruction in the New Reading System, an early-reading curriculum. A rational analysis using behavioral categories yielded a set of strategies for teaching reading acquisition skills. Contingency management was assessed by an application of the…

Based upon the theory of successive approximation (children learn language in a series of stages that come closer and closer to replicating adult language), the method of assisted reading instruction for children, ages four and above is explained in detail. Studies supporting this method are discussed. (ED)

A study investigated the top-down and bottom-up reading skill patterns of 34 kindergarten children who, as precocious readers, were reading at or above the third grade level. The children were administered the reading comprehension subtest of a standardized achievement test, five subtests on an intelligence measure, and a battery of reading skills…

A one year descriptive study investigated the strategies used by a group of competent beginning readers who were learning to read in a program in which text reading was the main instructional task. Subjects included 52 six-year-old children attending 20 randomly selected schools in Auckland, New Zealand. Strategy usage in oral reading was related…

In learning to read, children must first understand the objectives of that skill: that the visible symbols communicate meaning and code certain features of speech. If a child does not understand this, learning will be impaired. For instance, children who are taught to read a language other than their native language learn better if instructions…

A study was conducted to test the thesis that teaching word recognition skills in a manner compatible with the learner's auditory or visual modality preference would facilitate beginning reading instruction. A group of 62 students in two first grade classrooms was studied; one class stressed the presentation of words as whole units, the other…

In an exploration of the comprehension process of the beginning reader, 16 first and second grade students were each asked to listen to two stories--one a narrative account and the other an expository passage-- and then immediately to retell them. Recall protocols were compared by propositional analysis for text-related superordinate and…

The papers in this volume represent thoughts about the state of the art of teaching reading (with an emphasis on persistent problems) of many recognized authorities in the field of reading education. Eight of the articles were originally presented at a joint Reading Hall of Fame and International Reading Association (IRA) symposium at the IRA…

A number of studies exploring how beginning readers acquire knowledge that enables them to spell words fairly accurately and to recognize words correctly and quickly as they are reading are described in this report. (The reported studies were designed to test hypotheses derived from a theory of printed word learning proposed by L. C. Ehri.) In the…