When schools and teachers adopt core reading programs they can use them with fidelity or make intelligent decisions about the texts, lessons and components they select to use. The evidence suggests that these programs are not research-based documents, but rather compromises between what the research suggests about effective reading instruction and…

It is the goal of this book to provide unique and helpful information to reading and curriculum specialists who are looking for ways to improve the silent reading proficiency of their students. While the background information is, at times, technical, the recommendations as to the skill areas that require improvement as well as the computer…

Despite over 25 years of research supporting the instruction of comprehension strategies, it seems that such instruction is not readily found in many classrooms or basal readers, resulting in students that struggle with analyzing and comprehending text. This is particularly true in the primary grades. Originally designed with seventh grade…

This book will help teachers address how to manage guided reading groups with the Guided Reading Kidstation Model, a model that focuses on meeting students' diverse needs and ensuring student accountability. Activities within the model are based on the Standards for the English Language Arts and are appropriate for use with the variety of students…

The process of teaching the child to read has gone through many stages of progress. Word, sentence, and phonic methods may each contribute to the process, and that undue emphasis on any one of these methods demands too great a sacrifice in quality and interest. The "Merrill Primer" is built on the familiar rhymes of Mother Goose and…

The chief difficulties in teaching a child to read are focused in the Primer (ED622318) and the First Reader. If the teaching in the first year is wisely done, the later work in reading should go forward smoothly and steadily. Every step in this fundamental work must be carefully planned and developed. The First Reader, therefore, should be a…

There is no more direct way to the interest of children in the second school year than through the story. All thought of drudgery vanishes and the lesson is a real source of delight when the reading book furnishes one good story after another. This "Second Reader," therefore, is a book of stories -- stories in prose and verse. Fairy…

An appreciation of the best there is in literature is one of the chief aims of the reading lessons. It is therefore essential that the material used in every grade should have intrinsic value. It must be good literature and it must also be worth while for its own sake, from the child's point of view. With this aim in view, the selections in this…

This "Fourth Reader" is designed to meet the children on their own level and to lead them by easy stages to a higher plane. Special attention has been given to keeping the vocabulary within range of the pupil's ability. The earlier part of the book contains selections that are simple in vocabulary and sentence structure, and the later…

This "Fifth Reader" contains a large amount of wholesome adventure and experience stories, including some of the great stories of world literature and selections from notable writers. The spirit and the language of the author have been preserved in stories abridged from longer works. Selections were made with a view to the needs, tastes,…

The purpose of this "Sixth Reader" is to provide, for both oral and silent reading, an abundance of matter that is of fine literary quality and at the same time is fresh and well adapted to the pupils' powers of understanding and appreciation. The suggestions for study at the back of the book are designed to give information a thoughtful…

A method for teaching sight words to elementary level learning disabled children is proposed which relies on input organization, a strategy in which teachers reorganize information into small, related units for instruction. Also included are sample word categories, results of the method's use, and recommendations for use. (DB)

The author offers suggestions for adapting basal reading series to the needs of students. Among recommendations offered are using workbook pages selectively, changing presentation orders, making one's own worksheets, and increasing the students' actual reading time. (CL)

The "whole language" approach to reading instruction integrates, rather than fragments, the reading process. Ways teachers can take reponsibility for their students' literacy by modifying or even putting aside basal readers are suggested. (MT)

Criticisms of basal readers are addressed. Improvements to basal readers in 1986 and 1987 are listed. Teachers are urged to be selective when using basal readers. (MT)