Modeling the Growth of Word-Decoding Skills: Evidence From Dutch

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludo Verhoeven ◽  
Jan van Leeuwe
2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Woolley

AbstractPoor comprehenders are generally students who have significant language-learning deficits. A particular problem for students with poor comprehension is that they have difficulty learning new vocabulary because they are inclined to read less, and are unable to apply new meanings to unfamiliar words. This leads to the situation where the gap widens between them and their more successful peers, resulting in more noticeable reading difficulties in later grades. They generally have good word decoding skills but have difficulty connecting meaning to unfamiliar words in context. This is often problematic because they have particular difficulties making inferences and forming a coherent mental model of what they have read. However, effective vocabulary instruction can be achieved by the incorporation of an intervention framework that balances the teaching of word-learning strategies with strategies fostering whole story integration. This article introduces a pedagogical construct based on a modified KWL framework using a combination of evidence-based visual and verbal instructional methods, in conjunction with the development of metacognitive and self-regulating strategies. The implication is that the cognitive load on working memory will be reduced and overall story comprehension will be improved when a well-constructed pedagogical framework is utilised to enhance the acquisition of new vocabulary during reading.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-376
Author(s):  
Gavin Brooks ◽  
Jon Clenton ◽  
Simon Fraser

This exploratory study represents an attempt to investigate the factors that may affect the reading comprehension abilities of English as an additional language (EAL) learners. For this study, we examined a participant group of 31 (25 EAL and 6 first language English) learners studying at an international school in Japan. We assessed the participants according to four factors shown to influence reading comprehension: vocabulary knowledge, word decoding skills, reading fluency, and general linguistic ability. Our results show that differences in vocabulary knowledge show more variance in reading comprehension scores than the other factors examined in this study, highlighting the importance of vocabulary knowledge for reading comprehension. However, other factors such as reading fluency and general linguistic knowledge are also shown to be moderate to strong predictors of reading comprehension. Based on these results, we suggest that EAL learners need targeted language support to enhance academic text comprehension.


1997 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 62-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda K. Swank

This longitudinal investigation examined the linguistic influences on the emergence of written word decoding in a group of typically developing first-grade children. Sixty children were administered tasks that measured phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic abilities as well as literacy and alphabet knowledge during the first quarter of their kindergarten year. Subjects were then given measures of written word decoding in the fourth quarter of the first-grade year. Fixed-order regression analyses indicated that the phonological and orthographic factors contributed the most variance to written word decoding. A meaning factor also contributed significant variance to written word decoding. This latter finding challenges previous research that identifies phonological and orthographic variables as the sole influence on written word decoding. It is argued that, in teaching written word decoding skills, a focus on only form (i.e., phonological and orthographic knowledge) to the exclusion of meaning may result in less efficient decoding and subsequently may result in less competent reading comprehension.


1986 ◽  
Vol 30 (13) ◽  
pp. 1336-1339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Olson ◽  
Gregory Foltz ◽  
Barbara Wise

Synthesized speech was used in our Computer-Based Reading and Speech-Feedback system for training disabled readers. In this system, children touch unfamiliar words in stories presented on the computer display and receive speech feedback to help develop their word decoding skills. Results from a study of disabled readers' responses to the system are reported. The disabled readers could identify words spoken by the synthesizer nearly as well as the same words presented in natural speech. After reading stories and targeting unknown words with a mouse or light pen, the disabled readers were later able to read a high percentage of the targeted words for which they had received speech feedback. Extended use of the system may substantially improve the prognosis for disabled readers. The advantages of synthesized speech over other types of computer speech are discussed for this application.


1986 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph K. Torgesen

Recent cognitive analyses of reading indicate the importance of fluent word identification skills in reading comprehension. These analyses suggest that children who experience difficulties in the acquisition of fluent word decoding skills will be limited in their development of higher level comprehension processes in reading. Recent advances in computer technology create the possibility of providing much greater amounts of fluency oriented practice in decoding skills than is possible in most traditional programs. A few beginning studies provide support for the idea that computers may be helpful in reading instruction for handicapped children by providing large amounts of practice in the word identification skills that are necessary before good comprehension of written materials can occur.


2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1441-1457 ◽  
Author(s):  
KRISTIN NELLENBACH ◽  
JENNIFER ZOSKI ◽  
JOY DIAMOND ◽  
KAREN ERICKSON

ABSTRACTAdolescents often learn science vocabulary through reading. This vocabulary is frequently characterized by multisyllabic words derived from Greek and Latin roots. While most adolescents have acquired the decoding skills to read these multisyllabic words, many students, particularly those with disabilities, cannot engage in independent word learning because they lack the skills to decode these multisyllabic words. Graphomorphemic elements of words, including affixes, support effective decoding and can eventually support word learning. This article describes an approach used to identify the most frequently occurring, stable affixes within science words so that they could be used in “big word” decoding instruction. To illustrate the approach, a subset of high frequency science words and a list of high utility, stable affixes are provided.


2000 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 2952-2957 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Talcott ◽  
C. Witton ◽  
M. F. McLean ◽  
P. C. Hansen ◽  
A. Rees ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Brenda Ann Marie Hannon

This study shows that home literacy activities contribute to kindergarten children’s higher-level comprehension processes, namely knowledge integration and knowledge access. Kindergarten children completed measures assessing literacy and language skills and then their performances on these measures were correlated with home literacy activities, which were assessed via a parental questionnaire. Consistent with previous research, the results revealed that informal home literacy activities were positively related to language comprehension and vocabulary but not to letter-word decoding and phonemic decoding skills. The results also revealed that home literacy activities were positively related to knowledge integration and knowledge access, two strong predictors of language and reading comprehension. Finally, the present results suggest that the contributions that home literacy activities make to language comprehension are the same contributions that home literacy activities make to higher-level comprehension processes. In other words, the contributions that home literacy activities make to language comprehension are not independent of the contributions that home literacy activities make to higher-level comprehension processes.


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