Rudolph Flesch - Correct AnswersStarted the issue of the great debate to the
publics attention on how best to teach a child to read. This came about in his
book. "Why Johnny Can't Read" (Mid 1950s)
Kenneth Goodman and Frank Smith - Correct AnswersDeveloped the Top-Down
approach to reading instruction. Believed that reading should be taught through
immersion in children's literature . Teaches reading without breaking it down into
parts. Whole Language based, emphasis is on guessing at words rather than
sounding them out. (1980s)
G. Reid Lyon - Correct AnswersBecame the coordinator of the research for NICHD.
(1985)
Top-Down Theory - Correct Answersled by Kenneth Goodman and Frank Smith
**strong meaning-based position
**Goodman calls reading a "psycholinguistic guessing game"
**rather than read every word, good readers select out on the essential textual
information
**only focus on individual words/sounds when text does not make sense, and
the reader needs to go back and reread
**this is Whole Language characteristic
Bottom-Up Theory - Correct Answersemphasis on the subprocesses of the reading
act and its contention that many of these subprocesses, such as letter and word
identification, must become automatic in order for readers to be fluent.
(Alphabetic Phonics)
Interactive Theory - Correct Answersreaders simultaneously initiate word
identification and predict meaning----these are reciprocal events
analytical approach - Correct Answerswhole to part (Top-Down) put the whole
word on the board/discover what's the same, how it can be broken down into
component parts