Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print

by Marilyn Jager Adams

Book Overview

Beginning to Read reconciles the debate that has divided theorists for decades over what is the "right" way to help children learn to read.

Beginning to Read reconciles the debate that has divided theorists for decades over the "right" way to help children learn to read. Drawing on a rich array of research on the nature and development of reading proficiency, Adams shows educators that they need not remain trapped in the phonics versus...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262510766
• ISBN13: 9780262510769
• Release Date: February 1994
• Publisher: MIT Press
• Length: 504 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Brilliant review

This book offers a wealth of information about reading development. It is a terrific source, as well for the scientist, as for the interested layman. Although it is biased toward the Seidenberg and McClelland model, the wealth of empirical data is more than compensating. It is an heroic attemt to synthesize different viewpoints.

The resource book on learning to read!

This is the book that other books on teaching reading refers to. It provides all of the "who, what, where, when, why, and hows" of teaching reading to children. A must-buy if you're a teacher of reading or at all interested in the topic.

The best research compendium available on learning to read.

This book was written under a federal contract in conjunction with the International Reading Association. Marilyn Jager Adams has compiled the most comprehensive review of the literature on learning to read done in the last 25 years. I have worked with teachers of reading for 20 years and this is the best book I have ever seen to give them guidance on what they should and should not do in the classroom. Well worth the money

Adams' book is the most informed source on reading ,

Marilyn Adams lead a Federally funded research team to conclusively determine what methods best support beginning readers. All educators can gain for Adams' informed investigation of whole language, phonics and other methods for teaching reading. The limits and strengths of these programs are clearly defined. More importantly, Adams defines what works for all readers- understanding the role the 44 sounds of spoken language plays in reading. Adams has put this understanding- phonemic awareness- in the forefront of reading. 70% of students acquire this awareness as part of their early development, as part of learning to speak. The 30% of students -millions of people- that do not pick this up after learning to speak and being exposed to literature rich environments need explicit instruction in this code. This is not phonics, but must be taught before phonic can help struggling readers. This is a wonderfully simple, easy to teach method that makes sense to children. It makes sense because this is how our brains have learned to process sounds for hundreds of thousands of years. This is important reading. Adams' other book, "Phonemic Awareness in Young Children", is a wonderful methods book for children under 6 years old.