Young children living in poor urban neighborhoods are often at risk for reading difficulties, in part because developing listening comprehension strategies and vocabulary knowledge may not be a priority in their prekindergarten classrooms, whose curriculums typically focus heavily on phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge. Prereading…

A review of reading research supports the notion that providing opportunities for children to develop rich experiences prior to beginning reading is essential. Further, there are definite links between these experiences and the development of cognitive structures that provide the basics for comprehension. (HOD)

Examines prereading and beginning reading from both a historical and a current perspective with emphasis on the implications of recent findings on children's literacy learning for instruction. (FL)

Suggests that the most beneficial early reading experiences are those that are informally presented and on topics of personal interest to children. Presents a sequence of activities using children's names that may be used to teach early reading and writing. (ARH)

Describes a parent education project that recognized the importance of educating parents so that they would be able to help their youngsters in early reading development. (HOD)

Presents picture-based and listening-based lessons designed to enhance teachers' awareness of the processes that lead to comprehension and to provide a framework within which they may develop their own lessons for comprehension awareness. (FL)

Analyzes two case studies of children who seem to have learned to read before enrolling in school. Examines common factors in their home environments, and suggests it is important for teachers to take into account the reading experience each child brings to school. (RS)

Third in a series of four articles devoted to parents and reading. Focuses upon parental involvement in reading and examines research and activities that can be beneficial at home and at school. (HTH)

Provides guidelines for using action (pop-up) books of rhymes and tales to help children develop prereading skills and a sense of story structure. (AEW)

Reviews research showing the positive effects of reading aloud to preschool children in the areas of language development, reading interests, reading and academic readiness, and social attitudes. (FL)