http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3785/is_200404/ai_n9398882

Teaching for Literacy Engagement

Guthrie, John T

In our theoretical framework, reading engagement entails multiple perspectives on reading that consist of motivational dispositions, cognitive strategies, conceptual understanding, and social discourse. Possessing these attributes, engaged readers are typically higher achievers than less engaged readers, who show fewer of these qualities or less integration among them. Because engaged readers spend 500% more time reading than disengaged students, educators should attempt to increase engaged reading time by 200%-500%. This may require substantial reconfigurations of curriculum. However, engaged reading is unique because it is both an effective means to achievement (engaged students improve in reading more than disengaged students) and a valued end or educational outcome. A research gap today is the lack of refined, empirical understanding about classroom practices that promote engagement. We designed Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI) to foster engagement through conceptual themes, hands-on experiences, self-directed learning, interesting texts, classroom discourse, and time for extended reading. For professional development, we attempt to convey the experiences, theory, beliefs, performances, and texts that will enable teachers to implement and generate instruction for engaged reading and learning.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3785/is_200404/ai_n9398880

Phonics: A Large Phoneme-Grapheme Frequency Count Revised

Journal of Literacy Research, Spring 2004 by Fry, Edward

This study is a summary and simplification of a very large phoneme-grapheme frequency count done by Hanna et al. (1966). Although the results and data from the original study have implications for teaching phonics and spelling, they were presented in a complicated and unwieldy manner. Moreover, the original study is out of print. This study, then, presents a succinct and simplified summary of the Hanna et al. results for researchers and teachers of reading and spelling.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3785/is_200401/ai_n11826117

Early Literacy Screening in Kindergarten: Widespread Implementation in Virginia

Invernizzi, Marcia

Early success in reading is predicated on a child’s ability to accurately and effectively master core literacy constructs (e.g., phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, concept of word, and grapheme-phoneme correspondence) and to exercise these understandings in a comfortable sociocultural context. In recent years, educators, legislators, and policymakers have shown great interest in creating an effective and instructionally useful diagnostic screening tool for identifying children at risk for early reading difficulties. In response to this charge, the Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening-Kindergarten (PALS-K) was developed. Through Fall 2003, more than 430,000 kindergarten students in Virginia had been screened using PALS-K. The purposes of this paper are to (a) describe the PALS-K instrument, (b) examine its effectiveness in screening for poor beginning literacy skills, and (c) discuss the educational and policy implications of the results of statewide literacy screening efforts.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3785/is_200504/ai_n13638848

Fluency-Oriented Reading Instruction

Stahl, Steven A

This paper reports the results of a two-year project designed to reorganize basal reading instruction to stress fluent reading and automatic word recognition. The reorganized reading program had three components: a redesigned basal reading lesson that included repeated reading and partner reading, a choice reading period during the day, and a home reading program. Over two years of program implementation, students made significantly greater than expected growth in reading achievement in all 14 classes. All but two children who entered second grade reading at a primer level or higher (and half of those who did not) were reading at grade level or higher by the end of the year. Growth in fluency and accuracy appeared to be consistent over the whole year. Students’ and teachers’ attitudes toward the program were positive. In evaluating individual components, we found that self-selected partnerings seemed to work best and that children chose partners primarily out of friendship. Children tended to choose books that were at or slightly below their instructional level. In addition, children seemed to benefit instructionally from more difficult materials than generally assumed, with the greater amount of scaffolding provided in this program.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3785/is_200601/ai_n16452268/print

Informational Texts as Read-Alouds at School and Home

Yopp, Ruth Helen

The role of informational text in primary-grade classrooms has been the subject of much discussion in recent years, and there is converging evidence that young school children have few opportunities to engage with this genre. The studies described here expand the research base to include preschool (Study 1) and home (Study 2) exposures to informational text as read-alouds. School data included 1,830 read-aloud titles from 1,144 teachers of preschool through third grade. Home data included 1,847 titles reported by the parents or other family members of 20 kindergartners over the course of a school year. The findings suggest that in both of these environments-school (including preschool) and home-children have far less exposure to informational text than narrative text. Further, a trend was revealed suggesting that boys may be read proportionately more informational texts in their homes than girls.