Helping Older Inexperienced Readers. PEN 92.

Noting that a small portion of older emergent readers are usually found in all primary classes, this pamphlet discusses how teachers can help students with reading difficulties see how to fit together the snippets of literacy-related information they may have already acquired. After a brief introduction, the pamphlet suggests that children learn to read by using reading for real purposes and by focusing on meaning, and that this can be accomplished most effectively by exposing the children to "real" books rather than purpose-written "scheme materials." The remaining sections of the pamphlet discuss aspects of the Directed Reading and Thinking Activity (DRTA), including: the rationale for the activity; a summary of the DRTA procedure; a discussion of each step in the procedure using Anthony Browne's book "Look What I've Got!"; and a discussion of several sub-strategies (involving reading and writing) that may be used within and after the DRTA. The pamphlet concludes with a list of 11 books by Anthony Browne for further reading. (RS)