Early Reading Instruction: What Science Really Tells Us about How to Teach Reading (Bradford Books) [Hardcover]

Diane McGuinness (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bradford Books | Publication Date: May 7, 2004

Early Reading Instruction is a comprehensive analysis of the research evidence from early writing systems to computer models of reading. In this book, Diane McGuinness provides an innovative solution to the "reading war"--the century-old debate over the efficacy of phonics (sound-based) versus whole-word (meaning- based) methods. She has developed a prototype--a set of elements that are critical to the success of a reading method.McGuinness shows that all writing systems, without exception, are based on a sound unit in the language. This fact, and other findings by paleographers, provides a platform for the prototype. Other elements of the prototype are based on modern research. For example, observational studies in the classroom show that time spent on three activities strongly predicts reading success: learning phoneme/symbol correspondences, practice at blending and segmenting phonemes in words, and copying/writing words, phrases, and sentences. Most so-called literacy activities have no effect, and some, like sight word memorization, have a strongly negative effect.The National Reading Panel (2000) summarized the research on reading methods after screening out thousands of studies that failed to meet minimum scientific standards. In an in-depth analysis of this evidence, McGuinness shows that the most successful methods (children reading a year or more above age norms) include all the elements in the prototype. Finally, she argues, because phonics-type methods are consistently shown to be superior to whole-word methods in studies dating back to the 1960s, it makes no sense to continue this line of research. The most urgent question for future research is how to get the most effective phonics programs into the classroom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"McGuinness separates the facts from the fancies and fads to tell us how to teach reading. It may not be news to educated readers that phonics is the way to go, but the question is, whose version of phonics? McGuinness makes clear what *really* works. A book for everyone interested in reading and early education."--James J. Jenkins, Distinguished Research Professor, Emeritus, Psychology Department, University of South Florida

' Early Reading Instruction is an up-to-date, accurate, and highly readable summary of major aspects of the science of teaching reading. It thus deserves to be designated reading for anyone active in reading instruction, from future teachers to school board members.' Patrick Groff, Professor of Education, Emeritus, San Diego State University

" Early Reading Instruction is an up-to-date, accurate, and highly readable summary of major aspects of the science of teaching reading. It thus deserves to be designated reading for anyone active in reading instruction, from future teachers to school board members." Patrick Groff , Professor of Education, Emeritus, San Diego State University

"*Early Reading Instruction* is an up-to-date, accurate, and highly readable summary of major aspects of the science of teaching reading. It thus deserves to be designated reading for anyone active in reading instruction, from future teachers to school board members."--Patrick Groff, Professor of Education Emeritus, San Diego State University

From the Inside Flap

"McGuinness separates the facts from the fancies and fads to tell us how to teach reading. It may not be news to educated readers that phonics is the way to go, but the question is, whose version of phonics? McGuinness makes clear what *really* works. A book for everyone interested in reading and early education." --James J. Jenkins, Distinguished Research Professor, Emeritus, Psychology Department, University of South Florida

"*Early Reading Instruction* is an up-to-date, accurate, and highly readable summary of major aspects of the science of teaching reading. It thus deserves to be designated reading for anyone active in reading instruction, from future teachers to school board members." --Patrick Groff, Professor of Education Emeritus, San Diego State University

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 390 pages
• Publisher: A Bradford Book (May 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262134381
• ISBN-13: 978-0262134385
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tour de Force, May 25, 2008

By 

MMD (Crozet, VA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Early Reading Instruction: What Science Really Tells Us about How to Teach Reading (Bradford Books) (Hardcover)

In this book McGuinness reviews reading research under the headings set out by the National Reading Panel. She makes a compelling argument for the kind of reading instruction known as synthetic, or linguistic phonics. The range of knowledge displayed is formidable.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars without hesitation, November 16, 2010

By 

Stephen Pellerine (In a bookshelf somewhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Early Reading Instruction: What Science Really Tells Us about How to Teach Reading (Bradford Books) (Hardcover)

This book is a thoughtful presentation on why reading in English is difficult, and on page one Diane looks at other language from around the world in which children acquire more easily and earlier than English. A relationship to the Alphabetic code is made - and then discussion on how to better help both early and later readers learn skills to deal with the English Language.
As in the compliment to this book (see: Language Development and Learning to Read: The Scientific Study of How Language Development Affects Reading Skill (Bradford Books)) dyslexia is also mentioned in perhaps a new light - that it is not biologically based: "For a biological theory to be accurate, dyslexia would have to occur at the same rate in all populations" but it does not (p 3).

It looks at writing systems and the history of and then gets into the nitty-gritty of how to teach reading. It breaks down pedagogy on many levels and is not just academic literature developing theory - but using theory that exists it provides ways to apply sound pedagogy.

If you are interested in teaching reading - obviously you are if you are reading this review - I would recommend this book without hesitation.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading!, January 18, 2008

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Hudson River Reader (Hudson River Valley, NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Early Reading Instruction: What Science Really Tells Us about How to Teach Reading (Bradford Books) (Hardcover)

Diane McGuinness is a terrific psychologist and writer. Her books are fantastic. This is another book of hers that should be required reading for anyone who want to understand the process of learning to read. Though written for a technical audience, she writes so well and clearly that any lay person would find it understandable and enjoyable to read. Make sure to also read her other book, Langauge Development and Learning to Read.