University Library
Essential reading made available in our library!
Phonogram University Libary
I have collected a lot of research over the years related to teaching reading and I want to make it available to you. I’ve created multiple reading rooms where you can choose selections that interest you. In an effort to help you choose, Included are notes for each selection.
It is not necessary to read everything to be successful, but there is some very interesting information here!
Featured Selections
Orthographic Mapping
This is required reading if you want to understand the process necessary for your child to learn to read well whether they are a beginning reader or an older struggling reader.
Relations among reading skills and sub-skills and text-level reading proficiency in developing readers
This has quite a title, but I named the PDF "Reading Study with Phonograms" and called it good. This is an advanced study that will require focus to complete. Unless you love reading research studies, the first seven pages are probably enough. This one is close to my heart because they refer to sound units as phonograms, which most studies do not do.
Basic Reading Room
Logic of English and the Science of Reading
I had to get this selection from Denise Eide (and Lucas Gabrielson) in at the top of the list. Denise has a great reading program based on 74 phonograms and 30 spelling rules. She does it for a living and that is apparent when you visit her website at https://www. logicofenglish.com. I use her decoding videos both when tutoring and when hosting classes. Give this one a read!
Stanford study on brain waves shows how different teaching methods affect reading development
This is an article summarizing the "Hemispheric specialization..." study in the Advanced Reading Room. This is one of my favorite studies because it provides evidence of how learning to decode words hits the brain differently from the use of sight words. I hate sight words when used in volume!
Analyzing Words and Making Discoveries About the Alphabetic System: Activities for Beginning Readers
This study discusses the need for children to understand that words are made up of parts and that word analysis is important. The authors rely much more on discovery of rules vs. explicit teaching, which I advocate. As you read it, imagine how your child would do already knowing some of what is discussed. It is great to make discoveries, but it considerably extends the time it takes to learn to read effectively.
Corrigendum: Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert
First of all, "corrigendum" means "an error to be corrected." Don't know about you, but that was a new word for me. I have this one in the Basic Reading Room despite being very long. The authors did a great job of making it readable. I like that they addressed the reading wars and come down on the right side, i.e. explicit phonics.
Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science, 2020
Check out this quote from page 11:
"The reading brain gradually builds neural networks that facilitate rapid processing of symbol-sound and sound-symbol connections. Once these networks for mapping speech to print are developed, the brain can recognize and store images of new printed words with little conscious effort."
Much more great information in this one. This one, too, is written for easy reading.
Advanced Reading Room
Hemispheric specialization for visual words is shaped by attention to sublexical units during initial learning
This is the VERY advanced study that I referenced in the Standford study article in the Basic Reading Room. Great information but it is definitely a slog. Don't feel bad if you end up relying on the article!
Developing Early Literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel
"The National Early Literacy Panel (NELP) was convened in 2002 to conduct a synthesis of the scientific research on the development of early literacy skills in children ages zero to five." (pg. 11).
The panel goes into great depth. It includes a lot of text discussing the methods and data from various studies. It is 260 pages so between the complicated data and the length it has earned its Advanced Reading Room status.
TEACHING CHILDREN TO READ: An Evidence-Based Assessment of the Scientific Research Literature on Reading and Its Implications for Reading Instruction
"In 1997, Congress asked the “Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to convene a national panel to assess the status of research-based knowledge, including the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching children to read.” The panel was charged with providing a report that “should present the panel’s conclusions, an indication of the readiness for application in the classroom of the results of this research, and, if appropriate, a strategy for rapidly disseminating this information to facilitate effective reading instruction in the schools. If found warranted, the panel should also recommend a plan for additional research regarding early reading development and instruction." (pg. 7)
This takes almost 500 pages. I'm still working on it. So much good information.
Does Learning to Read Improve Intelligence? A Longitudinal Multivariate Analysis in Identical Twins From Age 7 to 16
A short one, but still complicated as they discuss the data a lot. Basically, they prove that reading does make you smarter but there are many variables. Also includes a nature vs. nurture discussion, which is not surprising. Isn't it always nature vs. nurture.
