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Activities that teach PreK-1 students the six components of emergent literacy and beginning reading and word study are presented for classroom settings. These activities are adaptable developmentally and they highlight four important aspects of teaching phonics, spelling and word knowledge that are often overlooked: the rhythm of literacy, Concept of Word in Text (COW-T), articulation in word study, and the role of spelling in the reciprocal processes of reading and writing (decoding/encoding). Research underlying these activities suggests that rhythmic activities in early literacy instruction can be a precursor to explicit instruction for phonological awareness with young children and students who struggle to learn to read. The research also shows how articulation and other multisensory aspects of learning to read are parts of development and instruction for emergent and beginning readers. The role of spelling during these early periods is highlighted and discussed.

This study investigates the English spelling of students in grades 2 through 8 in Mainland China. A review of spelling and cross-linguistic research in spelling is presented. The orthographic development of 273 students was assessed "with validated spelling inventories" (Sterbinsky, 2007) to sample developmental features across three layers of English orthography. The sample size and the detailed analyses make this study unique. The 13 features in the analyses spanned development from beginning consonants to roots. Feature analyses predicted grade level, and there were significant differences across grades. Students made predictable spelling errors that reflected a similar developmental sequence to native English speakers. The error analyses across grades adds to the body of cross-linguistic literature illustrating how English language learners develop basic literacy skills in a similar manner to English-L1 children (Chiappe, Siegel, & Gottardo, 2002; Ford, Invernizzi, & Huang, 2014). This study indicates that as some English learners advanced in grades, their L1 has less of an impact on their spelling in English. When orthographic knowledge is examined across the alphabet, pattern, and meaning layers and cross-linguistically, researchers and educators can identify features students have mastered and what they are learning as a guide for a sequence of instruction and monitoring growth.

This study investigated relationships among the reading fluency, word recognition, language background, and reading achievement in second through fifth graders. Among the 250 students sampled, 70% were within word pattern (WWP) spellers. These WWP stage spellers were remarkably similar in reading, regardless of grade and Limited English Proficient designation. Years in school did not compensate for orthographic development in reading rate and word recognition. There were significant differences in reading rates for 1-min and passage rates (?p 2 = 0.34) for students in this stage, and criterion referenced test pass rates were associated with Curriculum-Based Measure norms for reading rate. Implications for instruction are presented.

Educators need ways to assess orthographic knowledge and differentiate word study instruction for secondary, emergent bilingual learners. In this study, the spelling of 199 students in grades 7-12 across eight features and four spelling stages was examined to understand students' orthographic development; all but two were learning Spanish and English. Spelling data were collected three times over a nine-month period. There were significant changes across the time periods that show students progressing across four stages of spelling development, with a large effect size (partial eta squared = 0.498). Data from a standardized assessment of language proficiency were examined to study the relationship between students' orthographic knowledge and their language scores. This study suggests ways to use spelling assessments to plan differentiated vocabulary and word study instruction.

Investigates possible developmental trends in children's invented spelling (or spelling errors) in Chinese elementary schools. Notes that regression analysis for linear trend shows that a developmental trend in the use of spelling strategies exists: at the lower elementary level, phonological strategies predominate; as grade level advances, the use of graphemic and semantic strategies increases. (SC)

A developmental model combining both skills and whole language instruction in four phases is offered for literacy development in children with mild handicaps. The four phases, common to literacy development in all children, move from pretend reading, writing, and spelling, to the transitional stage of fluency at approximately a third grade level. (DB)

Describes the development of reading fluency and expression, noting connections among oral reading fluency, word recognition, and spelling. The article presents a model of the stages of literacy development that recognizes the role of tacit knowledge in learning to read and write. A spelling inventory for teachers is included. (SM)

Examines the relationship between stages of orthographic development and writing fluency. Finds that the graphemic output lexicon of beginning readers and writers is not sufficiently detailed to allow a fluent output. (PRA)

Presents four Directed Reading-Thinking Activities (DR-TA) for use in secondary social studies classrooms. Defines a DR-TA and shows its applicability in teaching students effective study habits when reading social studies textbooks. Offers strategies intended to engage students with their textbooks, highlighting interior monologues and grouping patterns. Includes specific examples of each DR-TA. (CH)

Discusses details for establishing and evaluating student directed reading groups. (HOD)

Presents three study techniques based on the Content Directed Reading-Thinking Activity that help college students organize, understand, and recall what they are learning from a text. (AUTH/ARH)

Describes an informal spelling assessment that teachers can use to understand students' level of orthographic knowledge at the beginning of the school year. Reports that the results of this informal testing allow teachers to group students for word study and directed literacy instruction. (MG)

Discusses an integrated theory of literacy development with synchrony between beginning stages of reading and spelling. Explores the reasons why beginning readers read disfluently, fingerpoint, and read aloud. Discusses orthographic correlates to these behaviors. Suggests that fluent reading must wait for a certain power in word knowledge. Presents pedagogical implications. (SR)

A study compared results of an informal test of word recognition and a qualitative assessment of word knowledge with 32 adult basic education students. Results showed that adult spelling development is similar to that in children. The spelling-by-stage assessment instrument may be a useful substitute for word recognition tests. (SK)

The article discusses three stages of literacy development to discuss key recommendations to teach struggling readers. The developmental skill of Concept of Word in text or COW, constitutes the difference in children who can and cannot acquire sight words and phonics. At the elementary level, children who understand a COW can fingerpoint read accurately to the words of a familiar, brief text they have memorized even when there are two-syllable words.