Describes a study of the visual discrimination abilities of children who varied in their ability to recognize words. Indicates that visual discrimination skills of the type needed to discriminate between single artificial graphemes do not seem essential for the word recognition aspect of reading. (TJ)

Demonstrates that discrimination training with verbal materials (words and letters) is generally more helpful than training with non-verbal forms. (RB)

Suggests color highlighting as an effective method of improving word recognition visual discrimination skills. (RB)

Little research has been done to explain just why words are recognized more easily than letters alone; although, this phenomenon has been accepted widely by educators. Therefore, a model of the processes involved in word recognition and suggestions concerning how these processes can be put to use in reading instruction are presented. The model…

The assumption that the learning of letter names in their proper sequence is a prerequisite for literacy can be questioned. There is disagreement over the value of early letter-name training. It is variously said to aid in letter or word discrimination, to aid in attaching sounds to letters, and to interfere with both of these tasks. An analysis…

Four possible alternative approaches for developing word recognition skills (including sample lesson plans for both primary and intermediate grades) were presented. The first emphasized the importance of the relative order of difficulty of word analysis skills involving phonic abilities and auditory and visual discrimination in both primary and…

In an attempt to describe the place of phonics in a word-attack program, five areas of word attack are discussed: sight recognition, the use of context clues, morphology (structural analysis), phonics, and dictionary use. Facility in the use of all of these, singly and in combination, is stated as being necessary for a person to be an independent…

The skills listed in this booklet may form the base guideline for organizing the total school reading program or for individual classroom teachers. Several reasons are listed for constructing a reading program around a sequential listing of skills: (1) an orderly arrangement, (2) diagnosis, (3) blueprint for organizing flexible groups, (4) goal…

A linguistic reading-typewriting program for beginning readers is described. It is based on the idea that combining reading and typing into a single program allows the child the benefit and motivation of learning to read that which he writes and to write that which he reads. It provides the child an opportunity to develop his own experience…

This book is a collection of 571 activities to reinforce reading skills. The rationale for each skill is presented as an introduction to each skill area. The rationales explain (1) why the skill needs to be reinforced, (2) how to understand the skill, and (3) what the child should be able to do after completing the activities. Chapter 1 discusses…

A study investigated the size of the perceptual span within which adults use visual information to distinguish among letters as they read. The eye movements of fifteen college students were monitored as they read passages from a cathode-ray tube. On occasional fixations, letters in specified visual regions were replaced by other letters. The…

The responses of 84 children (42 in kindergarten and 42 in first grade) while trying to identify sight words that were similar in sound (bowl/pole), similar in sound and shape (boat/boot), or dissimilar (cup/moon) yielded information about phonetic composition as a source of information by which beginning readers identify sight words. The…

The document reviews research data, particularly group research, relating to teaching reading to the mildly retarded child. The paper examines the following areas: word recognition/meaning (context, decoding/phonics, sight words); letter acquisition and discrimination; comparative studies of methods and techniques; reading profiles of retarded…

A series of articles with the chief emphasis on phonics as a means of analyzing words is presented. Various articles pertain to elementary, secondary, and college level instruction. The first of the five parts into which the volume is divided is comprised of a single article which gives an excellent overview of the field of word recognition. Part…

A series of articles with the chief emphasis on phonics as a means of analyzing words is presented. Various articles pertain to elementary, secondary, and college level instruction. The first of the five parts into which the volume is divided is comprised of a single article which gives an excellent overview of the field of word recognition. Part…