The chapters in this volume are based on presentations made at a recent conference on cognitive and linguistic foundations of reading acquisition. The researchers who participated have all made contributions to the theoretical and empirical understanding of how children learn to read. They were asked to address not only what they have learned from their research, but also to discuss unsolved problems. This dialogue prompted numerous questions of both a theoretical and applied nature, generated heated debate, and fueled optimism about the important gains that have been made in the scientific understanding of the reading process, especially of the critical role played by phonological abilities.

The chapters in this volume are based on presentations made at a recent conference on Cognitive and Linguistic Foundations of Reading Acquisition: Implications for Intervention Research. This was the third in a series of meetings on the subject of brain development, language acquisition, reading, and dyslexia, with the embracing title of The Extraordinary Brain. The researchers who participated have made contributions to the theoretical and empirical understanding of how children learn to read. They were asked to address not only what they have learned from their research, but also to discuss unsolved problems. This dialogue prompted numerous questions of both a theoretical and applied nature, generated heated debate, and fuelled optimism about the important gains that have been made in the scientific understanding of the reading process, especially of the critical role played by phonological abilities.

This literacy program for students in grades 1-4 picks up where ""Road to the Code"" leaves off. It includes 6 levels that increase in complexity and targets the following skills: phonological awareness, word identification, oral reading, and dictation.Synopsis - This is a supplementary curriculum that has also been used as the primary reading program for classes in which many students are experiencing reading difficulty. There are six levels to this field-tested and validated program, each increasing in complexity from the one before it: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Within each level there are five steps that each lesson follows: review of sound/symbol associations, practice making words, review of previously learned decodable words and high frequency words, oral reading, and dictation. This is referred to as the ""5-Step Plan."" This program was developed to help children who are struggling with reading in grades 1-4, and takes about 30 to 40 minutes per day. It can be used for Tier I, Tier II, or Tier III kids and in small groups or one-to-one.""Road to Reading Success"" can be used with any core reading program. The words that the authors use were chosen from a review of basal reading programs and from Fry and Kress' ""The Reading Teacher's Book of Lists"", which is a popular teacher resource. On the accompanying CD there are materials needed to implement the lessons, including lesson plans, word cards, and assessment forms.

For helping kindergartners and first graders who are having difficulty on their early literacy skills, Road to the Code is a successful, 11-week program for teaching phonemic awareness and letter sound correspondence. Developmentally sequenced, each of the 44 15-20-minute lessons features three activities - Say-It-and-Move-It, Letter Name and Sound Instruction, and Phonological Awareness Practice - that give students repeated opportunities to practice and enhance their beginning reading and spelling abilities. Road to the Code is backed by more than 10 years of study in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms. Detailed scripted instructions and reproducible materials - such as Alphabet Picture and Sound Bingo cards - make this program easy for teachers to use. Teachers have the flexibility to work with students individually or in small groups and may adjust the amount of time it takes for a student to complete the program. With these proven phonological awareness activities, educators can confidently intervene before children have a chance to fail.