While previous research has documented the unique aspects of Chinese dyslexia as compared to dyslexia in alphabetic scripts, it remains unclear whether the difference in Chinese literacy experiences influences the manifestation of Chinese dyslexia. The present article first reviews the characteristics of Chinese languages and scripts, including…

Explicit code and comprehension instruction is important for English learners (ELs), and several key findings from research on young ELs learning to read initially in English can offer guidelines for developing effective code-based instruction for these children. The authors of this column address comprehension instruction for ELs, suggesting…

The nature of literacy is discussed from the perspective of a tutor who teaches adults how to read and write. It is argued that: (1) the effects of literacy discussed in the literature do not differ qualitatively from the effects of language and (2) literacy is equivalent to skilled reading. (Author/MT)

The fundamental goal of music-literacy instruction is to connect sound to symbol. An essential aspect of this process is audiation. Literate musicians make accurate matches between what they audiate and what they visualize. They establish this link by interacting with the symbolic language of music in both directions: translating notation into…

Standard or enhanced Blissymbols, designed to represent familiar actions, attributes, and objects, were shown to 20 3 year olds, who guessed their meaning. The number of their guesses that referred to the enhancements was twice as great as the number that referred to the standard Blissymbol base. (Author/JDD)

The pros and cons of the influence of television on society are debated. Television is considered a means by which cultural information is transmitted and a powerful mechanism of socialization. However, television can be seen as a threat to the traditional role of literacy in society. (JN)

Qualitative stories garnered from six students with mental retardation and published autobiographical and biographical stories by people with disabilities or their parents are used as a "research synthesis" to describe an intimate, caring relationship which is of central importance when constructing a non-traditional approach to literacy that…

Explores how visual (pictorial) and verbal (linguistic) systems work together and influence each other as young children create symbol systems. Finds that, for young children, color plays a key role in communicating messages. Shows how art and writing (especially color and light) influence each other in children's literacy development. (SR)