Proposes that the use of pattern books (literature with patterned or structured language that enables children to predict the next word, line, or episode) aids children's early reading and writing attempts. Introduces a five-day plan for implementing pattern books into the reading/writing curriculum. Includes a bibliography of books with…

Examines the use of repeated readings--children "reading along" with an adult--as a method of improving reading skills. Asserts that repeated readings by children with the voice support of a teacher/parent is an effective way to facilitate reading development. (MM)

Advocates a supplementary reading program for kindergartners and first graders that is a combination of modified sustained silent reading and Booktime, after an investigatory study showed that, although highly thought of, SSR was difficult in practice in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms. (NKA)

Describes how a simulated bedtime story experience in which an adult shares a book with a child can be used in classrooms to teach beginning readers. Points out the importance of using authentic children's literature in the approach. (EL)

Describes the rationale, problems, and successes of a literature-based reading program. (FL)

Article reviews research focusing exclusively on the reading knowledge of preschool children who have not begun schooling and have not received formal reading instruction. The categories are (1) studies that document what preschool children learn about reading (informally at home or in preschool), and (2) studies that tell us how children learn…

This study compares the reading achievement of beginning readers in kindergarten who were assigned to two reading groups: (1) cipher readers and (2) phonetic-cue readers. Results showed that the first group did better in both reading and spelling. The importance of beginning readers advancing beyond cue reading to cipher reading is emphasized.…

The criteria of 75 percent utility for phonetic rules to be used in reading instruction may be based on faulty logic. Once children achieve approximate pronunciation by applying phonetic rules, they usually can infer proper pronunciation. This supports teaching children to find and pronounce little words in larger unknown words. (MCK)

Relates the expressive writing experiences of children at Deddington primary school in rural Oxfordshire. (HOD)

Offers news ways to integrate the language experience approach with a basal reader and in the content areas. (FL)

Describes a study that investigated whether the structure of the materials children encounter and the abilities and experiences they bring to the act of reading affect the ease with which they comprehend the text. (FL)

Concludes, among other things, that fluent oral reading is an important step toward reading for meaning and independent silent reading and that silent reading should be encouraged from the beginning of reading instruction. (FL)

Reviews research on the impulsivity-reflectivity dimension of cognitive style and its influence on beginning reading instruction, reading achievement, reading readiness, and oral reading. (Author/RB)

Interchange 57 (Watson and Johnston, 1998) reported on a study of around 300 Primary 1 children in which the effectiveness of a synthetic phonics teaching program was examined. The synthetic phonics program was by far the most effective. A study described the progress the children have made from Primary 1 through to the end of Primary 5, focusing…

This book for early childhood educators is a practical guide for developing literacy in children between 3 and 7 years of age. Although many aspects of literacy are addressed, such as reading, speaking, listening, and writing, the predominant focus of the book is on reading. The book is not about theory, although theoretical aspects and current…