ERIC Number: ED050912
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1971-Apr
Pages: 14
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Pros and Cons of Teaching Reading to Four- and Five-Year-Olds.
Ollila, Lloyd O.
There are many pros and cons to the recent trend of early reading. The opponents fear that too much emphasis on early reading may lead to a less rounded development of the child; they agree on providing the child with richer and more varied experiences to insure reading readiness. The advocates believe that today's children have already had more and varied experiences and thus are more ready for reading activities at an earlier age than used to be the case. Some recent research studies have attempted to prove that (1) early readers do maintain their lead in reading achievement, (2) early readers have better attitudes towards reading, (3) there is no evidence that early reading is harmful to a child's eyesight, and (4) early reading will not result in psychological and social problems. However, the whole issue of early reading remains unresolved. Little research has been done to substantiate claims of the effects of early reading. Many of the criticisms center on questions regarding kindergarten teachers' background for teaching reading, problems of organizing instruction, and current reading programs. Advocates of early reading should feel a pressing need to provide better guidelines grounded in related research. References are included. (AW)
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Note: Paper presented at the meeting of the International Reading Association, Atlantic City, N.J., Apr. 19-23, 1971