Examines research to determine whether the commonly recommended procedure of determining a student's potential reading level via listening comprehension is valid for the primary grades. Concludes that it is not. (FL)

Reviews the literature concerning oral reading fluency and offers six hypotheses about how beginning readers develop oral fluency and about strategies to help those who do not. (FL)

Investigates which phonological awareness tasks are more or less difficult in Spanish; whether phonological awareness is a good predictor of reading achievement in Spanish; and whether training in Spanish phonological awareness increases Spanish reading achievement. Offers examples of phonological awareness activities for Spanish early literacy…

Examines whether (1) the belief of reading educators that beginning reading methods do not significantly differ is correct; (2) differences exist among methods for teaching older readers and for remediating disabled readers; and (3) instructional methods differ across subject type, treatment characteristics, different achievement measures, and…

Replies to an article in this issue that responded to an earlier article ("On Balanced Reading") by this author. Argues that Welna's unbalanced coverage of research and critique is the very fuel that continues the Reading Wars. Argues that a study of past and present research can lead the profession to common ground. (SR)

Briefly defined, Reading Recovery is a tutorial for children who are having difficulty learning to read and write after approximately one year of school. Although it is usually described as an early intervention program, Reading Recovery defies a simple definition, since there are layers of intersecting variables. This educational report…

Investigates differences between two types of reading probe material to monitor students' oral reading fluency over time. Reading sources were the curriculum in which the child was being instructed at school, and a set of generic (curriculum-independent) passages. Results indicated that students read significantly more words correct in the generic…

This paper provides a literary review and research-based techniques for teaching reading. The paper also examines the different philosophies of reading to ascertain beneficial commonalities. Based on the literature review, a manual was produced to support administrators, teachers, and parents in securing quality reading instruction. Appendix A…

Presents theoretical assumptions and a practical guide to creating a reading program based on thematic units. (FL)

Reviews the research on the initial teaching alphabet (i/t/a), the sources of conflict and misunderstanding involving its use, and its future in reading instruction. (FL)

Traces the history of reading instruction in the United States, discussing books about teaching reading which exerted great influence in their respective eras. Discusses the "First-Grade Studies" (begun in 1964), a cooperative effort to analyze study results on teaching reading. (PA)

Analyzes research in the phonics section of the Report of the National Reading Panel to examine what the data, as opposed to the Panel's interpretation and reporting of the data, say about the role of phonics in reading instruction. Suggests the methodology of the Report is flawed, and results reported in the Summary are not supported by the…

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)

This report aims to disseminate research findings about reading programs for early elementary grades in a summary format useful for educators. The report features programs with clear descriptions and useful research, programs for non-English speaking children and research on basal reader series were not included. The four sections of the report…

National attention is focused on early literacy, as several panels investigate and debate new directions in teaching children to read and write. This booklet reviews selected research recommended by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development as a sound basis for designing literacy programs and particular intervention programs to…