This study explored the impact of preschools with a language and literacy focus on the development of early literacy. The aims of the study were to: (1) compare the emergent literacy development of children who attended a preschool with a language and literacy focus with that of a comparable group of children who did not attend such a preschool;…

A study determined whether kindergarten teachers encouraged invented writing experiences among children to prepare them for reading and how teachers implemented invented spelling experiences in the kindergarten program. Subjects, 314 kindergarten teachers (out of 600 randomly selected kindergarten teachers in Iowa), responded to a survey of their…

Based on the concept that readiness for reading is brought about by the nurturing of a child's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth, this guidebook presents reading readiness guidelines and carefully planned workshop activities designed to provide a classroom climate conducive to discovery and language development. The first…

This planning handbook is designed to help library staff and volunteers organize, implement, and manage a Read-to-Me-Club for pre-reading or read-to-me patrons, and those parents, family members, and caregivers who care for, work with, and read to pre-readers. Nine chapters provide: (1) an explanation and description of a read-to-me program; (2) a…

Designed to complement the RIM (Reading-Instruction-Maintenance) Reading Skill Guide, this reference guide provides a useful tool for teachers utilizing the RIM Model in grades kindergarten through six. In the RIM model, readiness (R) stands for exposure to the skill, mastery not expected; instruction (I) stands for formal presentation with…

A resource guide to help parents foster young children's interest and skill in reading, this paper offers parents of preschool and elementary school students 31 ways to help children read. Suggestions range from talking to children in infancy to having books and magazines available in the home to setting aside a family reading period each day. A…

THE RESULTS OF 17 STUDIES ON READING READINESS ARE SUMMARIZED AND INTERPRETED. ALL BUT ONE OF THE STUDIES WERE COMPLETED SINCE 1957. READING READINESS IS DEFINED, AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND CURRENT THEORY ARE DISCUSSED. STUDIES OF FORMAL READING READINESS INSTRUCTION IN KINDERGARTEN ARE DESCRIBED. CONCLUSIONS ABOUT KINDS OF…

THIS UNIT GUIDE WAS DESIGNED FOR DEMONSTRATING TO THE PREREADER THAT WRITING IS A CODE FOR SPEECH AND THAT LETTERS ARE SYMBOLS FOR SOUNDS MADE IN SPEECH. IT WAS DEVELOPED AS A PREREADING UNIT UNDER "PROJECT LITERACY," A BASIC RESEARCH AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN AREAS OF EDUCATION RELEVANT TO THE ACQUISITION OF LITERACY SKILLS.…

This study reveals that children from the age of four to six years are unable to segment meaningful sentences into component words. The experiment investigated three hypotheses of performance on a word-learning task for beginning readers and prereaders. Readers and prereaders were taught five words as oral responses, each word paired with a…

The methods and validity of evaluations of cognitive development, in language and numbers, of children ages three through six, by use of classroom observation inventory lists are discussed. The Evaluation of Cognitive Development--Pre-Reading Skills, an observational instrument (teacher completed), was administered to 134 first grade students in a…

A method of evaluation of prereading skills in preprimary school children is described. The method, employing a check list, can provide either a record of class performance, or a cognitive profile of an individual student. The instrument is divided into 8 major task areas that may be seen as plateaus of cognitive development of prereading skills.…

In the spring of 1971, an initial version of a program to teach selected prereading skills was tried out in three kindergartens. The three visual skills to be taught by the program were attending to letter order, letter orientation, and word detail. The sound skills to be taught were sound matching and sound blending. The program materials for…

A review of the literature about reading instruction for ethnically different students discloses a body of information largely disconnected and biased. Numerous factors are alleged to be determinants of the reading retardation of such students. Generally, these fall into two categories: racial factors in intelligence and cultural deprivation. The…

This paper reviews the literature concerning preschool experiences which affect reading development. An attempt is made to isolate and describe experiences which, according to research, enhance reading achievement. Since 1960, many different early childhood education programs have been developed for educationally disadvantaged children. An…

This joint statement expresses concerns about present practices in pre-first grade reading instruction and makes recommendations for improvement. The statement was prepared by seven organizations concerned with preschool education and/or reading instruction. (BD)