Links
30 Years of Research: What We Now Know About How Children Learn to Read
A synthesis of research carried out by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Succeed to Read: Emphasizes how auditory skill, phonics and language skills together build reading success.
The Reading Genie: Dr. Bruce Murray of Auburn University, on learning to read.
Dr. Murray’s curriculum list for Phonological Awareness
Caroline Bowen, Ph.D., Speech and language site for parents and speech & language pathologists
My Alma Mater, The University of Redlands
Interaction makes language grow
Language and Literacy Development, by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Here is guidance along the paths from language to literacy, year by year from birth thru age five, from the national association of language-learning professionals.
Trelease-on-reading.com
The companion site to Jim Trelease’s outstanding work, The Read-Aloud Handbook, offers a sampling from the book and some of the ‘treasury’ of recommended read-alouds. Do you really understand why your top literacy priority should be spending 15 pleasant minutes a day reading to your children? Find out!
I got this update from a parent. When I asked her what suggestion had made the most difference, she said “The Read-Aloud Handbook!”
‘On-Lion’ for kids! Recommended reading: Best books for children, by the New York Public Library.
List after list of wonderful books for kids, with pictures of the covers and one-sentence descriptions. Search your local library for your choices!
Alphabet fun
Word Window, by Wordwindow LLC (2005)
Word Window is a unique audiovisual alphabet for purchase on DVD or video, and available at some libraries. Sample this strangely captivating presentation at the Word Window web site. If your young child needs a boost in learning the alphabet, Word Window might be for you.
Learning to read: Research points the way to success for all
Resources geared to the needs of each parent, caregiver and teacher
Reading Tips for Parents (Consejos practicos para los padres sobre la lectura) by the US Department of Education (2003).
Vital information for parents who need the truth in a hurry. A few minutes’ quick and easy reading of bullet points.
Helping your child become a reader, with activities for children from infancy through age 6 by the U.S. Department of Education (2003).
This booklet covers the basics. This is sound advice in an encouraging, conversational style.
A Child Becomes a Reader: Proven Ideas from Research for Parents, Birth Through Preschool by The Partnership for Reading, National Institute for Literacy, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. Department of Education (2003).
A Child Becomes a Reader: Proven Ideas from Research for Parents, Kindergarten Through Grade 3 by The Partnership for Reading, National Institute for Literacy, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. Department of Education (2003).
Clearly written and well-designed, these two booklets (Birth Through Preschool, and Kindergarten Through Grade 3) distill more than 460 research studies for parents, grandparents and teachers.
Learning to read and write: Developmentally appropriate practices for young children, by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2005).
A readable joint statement from 12 national organizations lays out research rationales and recommended teaching practices for each stage of life through age eight.
Starting out right: A guide to promoting childrens’ reading success by Burns, S., & Snow, C. (Eds.). (1999). Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. Sample readings from chapters are available at no cost; chapters or book may be downloaded for a fee.
Narratives of how the concepts play out in conversations between parent and child add meaning to this text. For example, Language-Building at Home, Everyday Narrative and Dinner Conversations, and Connecting to Books.
These snapshots of everyday literacy-building interactions are highly recommended!
Portals to more information
Reading rockets. Public Television Station WETA, Washington, D.C. (2006).
“Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.”
Teachers and policy makers might be particularly interested in the Research & Reports section.
ERIC Archives: U.S. Department of Education, the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC).
Research Bases for Playful Sounds, here at The Reading Treehouse.
Last, and randomly
The Penny Stove, invented by my brother, industrial designer Mark Jurey.
World Famous, Lightweight Backpacking Stove.
Make it for free with two beer cans and a penny. Independently tested at MIT and elsewhere, it outperformed commercial backpacking stoves. There are many pretenders and countless imitators, but Mark’s is the original.
