This study tested the hypothesis that Distar Reading's demonstrated effects with disadvantaged children can be generalized to children with disabilities. The study compared the effects of two synthetic phonics reading programs, Direct Instruction "Reading Mastery" (which incorporated features of Distar Reading) and Addison Wesley's…

Children's knowledge of nursery rhymes can be their path to learning to read and to enjoy reading if handled properly by their teachers and parents. Each session with a child or group of children must be enjoyable, non-threatening, inspiring and challenging for the children. They should be able to feel that their parents and teachers are also…

A study investigated the relationships between the beliefs which parents hold about literacy learning and their children's early literacy knowledge and perceptions of learning to read and write. Sixteen 3- and 4-year-olds who attended the University of British Columbia Child Study Center completed child literacy and literacy perception tests,…

This 24-item annotated bibliography discusses factors affecting reading achievement, including classroom management techniques, reading instruction, reading comprehension, teacher behavior, and beginning reading. The books, journal articles, and research reports in the annotated bibliography were published between 1963 and 1977. (RS)

A descriptive study examined reading errors of emergent at-risk readers to determine which cueing system(s) they used initially, and whether or not there were changes over time in cues they used during reading. Running records of 30 first-grade children (participating in Reading Recovery programs at urban or suburban public elementary schools in…

A review was conducted of the research on error detection studies completed with children, adolescents, and young adults to determine at what age children begin to detect errors in texts. The studies were grouped according to the subjects' ages. The focus of the review was on the following aspects of each study: the hypothesis that guided the…

A study used aesthetic criteria and artistic criticism to find meaning in one part of the kindergarten and first grade curriculum, "Writing To Read," a computer-based program for beginning reading. Subjects, students in a kindergarten class, were observed several days a week from the day in April when they began the program until the day…

This book is the second of a series of books on a literature-based curriculum for early childhood and primary education which provides teaching ideas for active learning based on the stories in children's favorite books. Suggestions and activities for 90 books are organized under the following headings: (1) "I Am Me, I Am Special, Look What I…

Developed by experienced professionals, this brochure is designed to let parents know what the Whole Language Approach is, how it is being used in the classroom, and how parents can apply Whole Language in the home. (RS)

A year-long study examined how phonics or whole word instruction affected first graders' progress in reading and spelling words. Subjects, 80 Houston, Texas students of average reading and intellectual abilities from three classrooms receiving phonics instruction and three classrooms receiving whole word instruction, were administered a phonemic…

Written to be used as a manual for a tutor and not a workbook or primer, this expanded version of a phonics book is designed to help parents teach their children to read and for those who wish to help older children and adults to read. Sections include: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "What Went Wrong? (an essay); (3) "HOW to Teach Someone to Read by…

The reading scores of urban disadvantaged students have risen over the past 15 years, which may be attributable to special programs which have focused on strengthening the rudimentary skills. Whether reading achievement is dependent on students' mastery of standard English is an unresolved issue, but a number of instructional methods have been…

Provided in this report are the text of and explanatory statements about the conference agreement reached by House and Senate committee members concerning the Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1986 (later to become Public Law 99-425). The Act authorizes 4 years of appropriations to continue several existing human services programs of the…

The central purpose of storytelling in the classroom is for enjoyment, both on the part of the storyteller and the audience. On the other hand, especially when time is allotted for storytelling during reading instruction periods, teachers can integrate the art of storytelling with practical competence building activities. For example, the tale of…

An evaluation was made of the language development component of Columbus, Ohio's All Day Kindergarten Program (ADKP). The ADKP was instituted in Columbus' public schools in January, 1972, to provide a full day of instruction for underachieving kindergarten pupils. The overall goal of the program was to prepare pupils for first grade by providing…