This article describes a qualitative research project that examined pen pal letters exchanged between children in Virginia, USA, and Malawi in Sub-Saharan Africa. The goal was to study the nature of communication between students living in these two very different cultural contexts. The results of this study indicated that there were three primary…

Direct quotation can be a source of meaning in storybook texts for beginning readers. The author of this article sketches the linguistic complexity of direct quotation and offers instructional strategies. Three aspects of direct quotation are examined: the cluster of print features and syntactic characteristics that direct quotation involves, the…

Discusses reading as a culturally conditioned and situationally sensitive activity. (FL)

Argues that elementary reading materials should reflect the advanced syntax already evident in the language patterns of most youngsters. (RB)

Over three quarters of the Dolch basic words may be taught by a word family approach. (MKM)

Lists a basic sight vocabulary of 96 irregularly spelled words which should be taught through visual memory techniques. (MKM)

Points out that the linguistic rules of one's dialect determine what one hears and that items on tests of auditory discrimination may prove difficult for adults and nearly impossible for children. (JM)

Three principles are integral to any reading theory which provides reading teachers and researchers with the linguistic explanatory power required by linguistic theory. A clear understanding of language is dependent on the knowledge of what language is and how it works. There is an important distinction between competence and performance; most…

Reports research which shows that a wide gap exists between basal reader language and children's level of oral language development. (JM)

Basal readers are supposed to be easy for children to read, but sometimes their language is so unnatural that it's more confusing than helpful. (MKM)

Describes a remediation program designed to promote students' self-confidence, in addition to promoting fluent reading and enhancing comprehension. Notes that the program uses real books with meaningful language patterns, presented so that each student experiences success. (MM)