Uses analogy of patchwork quilt square to describe the reading instruction methods comprising one school's first-grade reading program. Parts include guided reading and centers, guided writing, reading workshops, reading strategies, comprehension through retelling and responding, word study, good literature, a print-rich environment, and strong…

A survey of 549 kindergarten and first grade teachers examined attitudes toward, and knowledge of, beginning reading practices that have been shown to prevent reading failure, including explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and word identification skills. Teachers generally had positive attitudes toward explicit reading approaches, especially…

The relative effectiveness of 3 instructional procedures (sight word, fading, tactile-kinesthetic) in teaching 32 students (age 9-20) with moderate to severe mental retardation to read a series of monosyllabic words was investigated. No one experimental condition was superior to the others, and no skill acquisition differences were found in…

A framework is presented for applying error analysis of oral reading to decisions about placement and instruction. The focus is on assessment practices that rely on the stimulus material of daily instruction and that facilitate decision making on both what and how to teach reading. A case study illustrates application of the procedure. (JDD)

Investigates differences in reading acquisition processes between Dutch and Turkish children learning to read Dutch. Finds that both groups rely on comparable reading strategies. Presents a structural model to examine interactions between the various reading processes in Dutch. Suggests that children learning to read in a second language should…

This article relates the ability to understand individual sentences both in and out of context by normal and developmentally delayed children at various developmental stages to the concept of world knowledge. Implications for assessment and treatment of sentence comprehension deficits among language-disordered students are discussed. (PB)

Describes a five-step sequence for the study of multicultural literature. Presents a detailed example of how the sequence can be used to study literature dealing with Native American cultural groups. Concludes with descriptions of how the sequence can be used and adapted with literature dealing with Black and Hispanic cultural groups. (MG)

Examines the degree to which whole language practices have become a part of reading instruction offered by first grade teachers in six school districts. Finds that teachers spent less than 10 percent of the reading instructional time engaged in practices which could be considered in agreement with whole language theory. (MG)

Reports on reading research in Great Britain published in 1988. Includes sections on word recognition, dyslexia, blind and deaf readers, writing, language and literacy, cohesion and comprehension, parents, and teaching methods. Concludes that most funding reinforces a narrow paradigm of educational research and that aging reading tests are used to…

Discusses the unique approaches, well-put notions, fine-tuned procedures, or insightful conclusions in 10 dissertations nominated for the 1989 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the International Reading Association. (RS)

Demonstrates the complex social nature of literacy by examining research on the influence of social interactions on reading and writing development. Illustrates these findings with examples from the environment and activities of a kindergarten classroom. (MM)

The concept of education as social reproduction illuminates practices in teacher education (particularly in reading instruction) that foster student failure and inequality. (Author/IAH)

Examines second-grade teachers' responses to students' answers in the questioning phase of reading lessons. Identifies eight response types: the null rejoinder; explicit evaluation; repetition of student's response; elaboration; and combinations of the last three types. Finds negligible differences among teachers' responses to readers of varying…

Describes how a shared poetry exercise, combining whole language experiences with process writing techniques, motivates remedial readers. Notes that this technique helps remedial readers achieve success in writing, build sight and meaning vocabularies, and improve reading fluency. (MM)

Drawing on theoretical and practical sources, the paper develops four basic principles of teaching in the reading/language arts and discusses how these apply to the selection and effective use of computer assisted instruction (CAI). CAI is seen as an integral part of a broad based instructional program. (Author/DB)