This study investigated the role of the amount, content, and implementation of reading instruction provided by 17 kindergarten teachers in eight "Reading First" elementary schools as it related to students' progress (n = 286 students) on early reading assessments of phonological awareness and letter naming-decoding fluency. Children's…

"Reading Mastery," one of several curriculum components that constitute the "Direct Instruction" curriculum from SRA/McGraw-Hill, is designed to provide systematic instruction in reading to students in grades K-6. "Reading Mastery," which can be used as an intervention program for struggling readers, as a supplement…

Three studies were conducted to examine whether printed cues conveying information about spoken intonation patterns would aid beginning readers in synthesizing printed words into spoken sentences. To represent intonation patterns, words were printed in three sizes corresponding to stress-pitch levels, and spacing between phrase boundaries was…

A study was made of Formula Phonics Reading Chain Programs in six California elementary schools to determine whether these programs replicated, in both form and educational outcome, the model program. On-site visits were made to evaluate program components and teaching strategies. Student achievement data provided by the schools, the districts,…

The reading program, Words in Color, was used as a 1-year program at the first-grade level in an elementary school in Gainesville, Florida. The reading program in each of four control classes was identifiably unique and varied. Predata were collected using the Metropolitan Readiness Test, Form A, in September, 1969 and the Otis Quick Scoring…

Describes and evaluates "Breakthrough to Literacy," a beginning reading scheme based on the language experience approach and launched in Saskatoon, Canada schools in 1974. (RB)

Results of research reports can be interpreted to suit personal prejudices, say the authors, since many research studies are not carefully reported. (Authors/MB)

Calling attention to the continuum of approaches reflected in beginning reading programs, this report presents content and cost analyses for over 50 beginning reading programs. The first of the report's five chapters is an introduction. The second chapter begins with a brief description of the major issues in the area of beginning reading and…

This study represents the second segment of the 3-year longitudinal study to test the effectiveness of the Listen Look Learn (LLL) Multi-Media Communication Skills System. Data were analyzed for the 1968-69 school year for 159 students who participated in LLL instruction during both their first and second year, 113 second-year students who used a…

For those school districts who wished an evaluation of the Listen Look Learn (LLL) system at grade 1 before expanding it into higher grades, a small study was conducted to determine what effect the transition to a basal reader would have on the child taught beginning reading in the LLL program. Two school districts submitted end-of-first-grade…

A nationwide sample of kindergarten classes in over 2,000 schools provided information on their use of the SWRL/Ginn Kindergarten Program for the second consecutive year, 1975-76. Replicating an initial inquiry, the data showed that (1) high overall levels of outcome proficiency can be reliably attained in kindergarten reading instruction; (2)…

Selections from the last three basal reading series produced by the Houghton Mifflin Company were examined to determine what improvements were made. One of the fundamental changes occurring in the 1971 revision ("Readers") was the replacement of grade designations with numerical levels that provided a better match between student and…

Approximately 100 first-grade pupils participated in a study of the effects of art-learning strategies on perceptual development and reading achievement. Pupils were assigned to one of four conditions: a sequential program of art-learning experiences, the Frostig program for the development of visual perception, a combination of these two…

The effects of a prescribed, sequential program of reading and mathematics readiness activities were investigated in an experimental study of 229 middle-class kindergarten children. Eight of 16 kindergarten classes received the experimental treatment for six months; the other eight served as a control group. Readiness tests were given before and…

A recent analysis of Even Start, the federal family literacy program, has concluded that the relative emphasis in many local programs has shifted too far toward background issues of family functioning and too far away from focused efforts to enhance literacy skills (Haslam, 1998). In keeping with this analysis, the time seems to be right for a…