The study presents a reading intervention for children having a variety of reading deficits. For this study it was found that most of the children had not responded positively to phonics instruction. Based on brain imaging studies, it has been shown that there are positive changes in the left brains of readers with dyslexia who receive phonemic…

The aim of this study was to determine whether explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and phonemically based decoding skills would be an effective intervention strategy for children with early reading difficulties in a whole language instructional environment. Twenty-four 6- and 7-year-old struggling readers were randomly assigned to an…

This article for speech language pathologists discusses theories of language learning and use that are consistent with whole language, including lexical contrast, connectionism, schemata, event representations, and parsing. Direct application is made to intervention, and examples of interactions between speech language pathologists and children…

This article challenges two assumptions underlying whole-language philosophy: spoken language is directly comparable to written language, and skilled readers rely on contextual information more than on the printed word. Speech-language professionals are urged to engage in some instructional practices associated with whole language but also…

This study investigates the effect of phonological awareness instruction on the development of word-reading ability for EFL first-graders in a Jordanian state school. Based on Chard and Dickson's (1999) phonological awareness hierarchy, a phonological awareness training program was developed by the researchers, and used in training the…

A practicum addressed the high percentage of students who were experiencing difficulty with reading comprehension and vocabulary retention in a fifth-grade Drop Out Prevention class by implementing a supplemental whole-language program. Subjects were 19 fifth-grade students. An informal reading inventory, an attitude survey, and academic grades…

This article discusses ineffective practices and educational outcomes attributed to the whole language approach which may stem from other educational dynamics, such as failure to provide adequate training or mentoring to teachers, confusing language as a communication process with language arts skills, and failure to apply known principles of…

Reviews the relationship between phonological awareness and early reading. Follow-up data from a group of 38 first-grade children who had low letter-sound knowledge in kindergarten found that those who received phonological awareness intervention in kindergarten performed better than their first-grade peers on word recognition and reading decoding…

This article discusses the concept of world knowledge and its relevance to intervention processes. Roles of linguistic and physical context in interpretation and levels of speaker experience are discussed. Levels of involvement are related to communication goals, and these principles are extended to applications in the teaching of language skills.…

An intervention project sought to lower the grade retention rates of kindergarten, first-, and second-grade students in one New Jersey school district. During three school years, 1987-1990, the retention rate was 7 percent of the total population of these grades. An exploration of causes identified several possible factors, including: (1) lack of…

This article applies whole language techniques to children with cultural and linguistic differences and provides guidelines for enabling speech-language pathologists to assume a role of active involvement. Whole language can provide a context for involvement in the areas of bilingual education and other language and dialect learning and for…

This study designed a music program for improving academic skills of first grade students after the teaching staff found the students doing average work in the classroom. The school involved in the study was located in an urban, middle class community in Northern Illinois. Results of standardized tests showed the extent of the academic problems of…

This paper presents theoretical principles of the whole language approach and its historical interdisciplinary influences. Suggestions for implementing whole language intervention with language-disordered children are presented, such as using theme building to achieve long- and short-term objectives, using scaffolding strategies, and using…

The whole language approach to literacy parallels the acquisition of oral language, which enables speech-language pathologists to assume leadership roles in such literacy programs. Aspects of whole language programs are discussed, including language, both oral and written; assessment and planning; service delivery; intervention; and the oral…

Maintains that school failure can be prevented if at-risk students are provided with a coordinated set of interventions. Presents recommendations for principals and teachers and describes several successful programs that promote at-risk student learning, including cooperative learning, mentorships, instructional technology, and the whole-language…