The relationship between gender and reading achievement and gender and early literacy experiences was examined. It was hypothesized that gender differences do not exist in relation to reading achievement, but early literacy experiences do differ in relation to gender. Subjects were students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Results indicate that there are no…

A special subgroup of Limited English Speaking students is often referred to as students with limited formal schooling (LFS) or "preliterates" because they have not yet had the opportunity to learn to read. This digest explores important aspects of the LFS student population, defining LFS students and discussing their impact on schools,…

This article takes a look at Reading Recovery lesson elements to compare the teaching and learning within the lesson components to several areas of learning that have been identified at the national level as important to children's literacy learning. The lesson elements examined in the article are: (1) phonological awareness; (2) orthographic…

The purpose of this Digest is to provide information for family child care providers regarding children's early literacy development. A definition and the characteristics of family child care are discussed in the first part of this Digest. The second half focuses on research-based strategies and recommendations that help support early literacy…

This paper begins with an overview of necessary word recognition skills and the debate between use of phonics versus whole language. The paper gives a useful 5-step strategy for decoding unfamiliar words: (1) use context clues; (2) try the sound of the initial consonant, vowel, or blend in addition to context clues; (3) check for structural clues;…

This report describes a program for increasing phonemic awareness in the primary grades. The targeted population consisted of first and second grade students from middle class communities located in the Midwest. Research indicated that students who enter primary grades without phonemic awareness might have reading difficulties. Lack of phonemic…

The period from kindergarten through second grade is a critical time for developing basic reading skills. This report focuses primarily on assessment of reading in early elementary school. The report discusses what is known about making assessment meaningful and describes what the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states are doing about…

This book presents an account of literacy learning based on what effective teachers and learners actually do. It demonstrates how literacy develops in social and communicative exchanges. It contends that learning to be literate--like all learning--involves negotiating meanings with others, through whom learners clarify, confirm, and expand their…

Australia and New Zealand have a literacy rate of 99% (Human Development Index). Each country has a national curriculum where early literacy is the main emphasis. The author visited public schools in Australia and New Zealand to observe teaching methods utilized in teaching reading and writing. Some impressions were noted while observing in these…

This book discusses the background and origins of reading problems, including poor reading instruction and frustrations of different instructional methods. The book presents a complete method for teaching basic skills needed in reading. Part 1 (What Every Parent Should Know about Learning To Read) contains the chapters: "Does My Child Have a…

"Readiness for reading" is a phrase familiar to anyone interested in the teaching of reading. Readiness is an essential factor in any phase of learning. If the individual is to learn, some foundation for that learning must be established. Relatively few articles concerning the place of readiness in areas other than reading appear in educational…

Reports a study indicating that an informal program of training in visual perception was equivalent to a formal program both in producing better results on a visual perception measure and on a reading achievement test. (TO)

Suggests several innovations in classroom physical environment that can facilitate students' learning to read and encourage their reading. (TO)

The great hope for permanent change in the below-norms reading performance of children lies in accomplishing the task of bringing first graders above national norms and holding them there as they move up the grades. Some form of programed learning can accomplish these goals. (Author)

Reports a study concluding that first grade children did not have strong preconceptions of letter-sound relationships when they entered school but their year-end responses were significantly more like adult responses. No differences were found between speakers of black English and white English. (TO)