Two experiments examined the influence of phonological and semantic processes on 4- to 6-year olds' ability to learn to read words. Results indicated that children learned phonetic cues better than control cues and that learning was influenced by both the phonetic properties of the cue and the imageability of the words used. (Author/KB)

Discusses what it would take to end reading failure in the U.S., examining what is already known, looking at the problem of early reading, and presenting a comprehensive strategy for reading by age 9 that involves dissemination of existing best practices, basic and applied research on beginning reading, and development and evaluation of new…

Presents data showing that the Rhyming Detection instructions do not have the effect claimed by Bryant (1998). Argues that Bryant's new measure reflects children's global sensitivity to sound similarities between different words and provides no convincing support for his conclusion. Concludes that their evidence supports the view that phonemic…

Examines one recent, influential reading methods study as an example of research that is overly promoted by the media and misused by policymakers and educational leaders to support a simple solution to raising the literacy of young children living in poverty. Suggests the study does not meet important criteria, questioning the wisdom of basing…

Two experiments replicated an earlier study on the causal connection between rhyming skills and reading development found in English. Different results were found from the first study. Argues that methodological and instructional factors may be very important for the conceptual interpretation of studies attempting to pit small units (phonemes)…

Examined the developmental relationship of children's motivational orientations and reading skills from preschool through grade 2. Results for 48 children show that regressive and progressive reading career groups of matching initial phonemic awareness and verbal ability did not differ motivationally at preschool but motivational orientation did…

Argues that singing and songwriting activities can complement a wide range of literacy learning activities, and offer emerging readers learning opportunities with active participation. Provides examples of singing and songwriting activities that support early literacy instruction in the areas of letter names and sounds, phonemic awareness, print…

Describes an instance of literacy learning involving the author and his two daughters at a local bookstore. Discusses how this literacy event challenged the author to consider alternative assumptions about reading, learning to read, and the relationship between reading and literacy. Offers lingering questions about what theoretical assumptions…

Traces research citations noted in advocacy and policy documents to their original sources to determine whether use of"decodable text" in early reading instruction is research-based. Researchers could locate no reliable, replicable research to support policy assertions that using decodable text, as defined in California and Texas policy…

Replicates a study of a "common unit" task which includes modifications to the original procedure. Confirms the pattern observed in the original study: beginning readers learning by a mixed method can identify shared phonemes but not shared rimes in the common unit task. Discusses implications. (RS)

Discusses the implications of Goswami and Bryant's (1990) theory about important causal connections in reading for classroom teaching, and reviews more recent "rhyme and analogy" research within this framework. Discusses new research on the nature of the English spelling system and the representation of linguistic knowledge. Emphasizes the…

Compares two views about the importance of environmental print in children's learning experiences. Assesses environmental print knowledge in non-reading preschool children and relates it to word recognition training. Finds words from the known logos were more readily learned than the matching control words, but only in Study 1 were the known logo…

Examines social contexts of beginning readers through an exploration of three dimensions that have an impact upon beginning readers' reading events: peer relationships and their role in children's reading development, children's oral language and discourse, and constructivism and sociocultural perspectives on learning. Offers implications for…

A study involving 28 teachers found Peer-Assisted Literacy Strategies (PALS) enhanced reading performance of first-grade students, although not equally for all learner types. Students who were low-achieving who participated in both PALS and teacher-directed small-group mini-lessons benefited more greatly than students who participated only in…

Considers Goswami's (1999) review of available evidence for and against the role of phonological rime awareness and analogy theory, concluding much of the evidence fits an alternative (non-rime) interpretation. Explores implications from this evidence for teaching and the role of rime analogy should play in the British National Curriculum. (SG)