Frequently Asked Questions on Beginning Reading

To find what each speaker at the Critical Balances conference has to say about each question, click on the initial letter for each speaker: Richard Allington, Phil Gough, P. David Pearson, Taffy Raphael, and Constance Weaver. This will take you to the speaker's transcript.

After reading the response, click on "More on FAQ__" to read the next response to that question.

1. What is the goal of reading instruction? What do skilled readers do?

A G R W

2. What is the best instruction for beginning readers?

>R
A G P W

3. When and how should we use direct or explicit instruction?

A R W

4. What kinds of text best support early reading?

P W

5. What have we learned about the role of reading teachers?

A P R

6. What have we learned about the connections between the research process and reading instruction?

A G P R W

7. What are the current realities of reading and reading instruction in the United States?

A P R

8. What should we do from this point on to support reading improvement?

A P R


Reading Online, www.readingonline.org
Posted October 1997
© 1997-2000 International Reading Association, Inc. ISSN 1096-1232