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,…

The reader-written book program at Rockford (Illinois) Public Library has been an extremely successful outreach program used to interest the disadvantaged child in library materials and services. Reader-written books are written by using the language experience approach techniques of having the child tell a story orally, recording that story on a…

Since, by the time they enter school, children have developed a major portion of their spoken language system by being immersed in language, it seems probable that they could also apply these rules to the orthographic system if they were immersed in reading. Thus, learning to read by reading would allow the general formation of rules that could…

This study examined the effects of two programs which differed in the methods they employed to develop reading readiness. The two methods represented were a language experience approach and a phonics approach. The subjects were children from kindergarten classes in two elementary schools in Flint, Michigan. All subjects were randomly assigned…

The focus of this book is on improving reading instruction among disadvantaged minority groups through the language experience approach. Four chapters contain discussions of self-concept, the growth of self-concept, reading instruction and the disadvantaged, and adult literacy. The other 16 chapters consist of bibliographies on the heritage of…

The importance of building positive attitudes and habits in developing successful reading experiences is discussed. In order to have positive attitudes toward himself and toward his reading, the child must acquire basic concepts about language and its relation to himself. Among these concepts are (1) I can talk about what I think about, (2) what I…

Affective teaching is particularly important at the secondary level when the student is facing the problems of adolescence (physical change, sex, social development, identity, values, and alienation). One of the most commonly accepted strategies at the secondary level is that of improving self-concept through the study of literature. Since an…

The purpose of this study was to determine if a compensatory reading program based on the language experience approach could raise the reading level of underachieving disadvantaged students in the community junior colleges to a level commensurate with their ability and high enough for subsequent success in college level academic courses.…

This book contains more than 250 language-experience activities, designed for use in classrooms where individualized programs require a variety of materials and a wide range of learning tasks. Intended for use as a resource text for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for inservice teachers at the elementary level, the book provides…

Reports on a study comparing the use of the language experience approach and a traditional reading lab approach in which LEA students made equal or greater gains in verbal ability. (MKM)

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)

The Language Experience Approach (LEA) creates reading materials and writing opportunities through integrated use of the learner's language and experience. Individualized LEA involving a "dictation" approach (child dictates experience; teacher records and reads back experience) is beneficial for hearing-impaired students in terms of increased…

Argues that teachers of English as a second language at the secondary school level must consider the social, political, and economic needs, as well as the linguistic needs, of students. (EKN)

The purpose of this study is to show that children go through writing stages while learning to write. Understanding these stages can help children become more effective writers in expressing feelings, memories, and concerns to gain recognition with themselves and others. A literature review examined stages of writing and long-term results from…

This book seeks to set the record straight about today's "reading wars," and analyzes the three major "battle cries" of whole language critics. In a step-by-step dissection, the book reiterates the three arguments, then explores the most salient studies that support or refute them. According to the book, the three claims are:…