Beginning Word Recognition: Benefits of Training by Segmentation and Whole Word Methods

In 2 studies, we compared the effectiveness of 4 different methods for acquiring initial reading vocabulary. Training emphasized similarity of word beginnings (onset plus vowel), similarity of word endings (rimes), phoneme segmentation and blending, or simple repetition of whole words. These 4 training regimes were compared with a control group given only regular classroom instruction. Beginning nonreaders acquired the trained words fastest in the onset and rime conditions, and most slowly in the whole word condition. Retention was excellent after 1 week and after 4 to 6 months, with no differences due to method of acquisition when only children who met the learning criterion were considered. Generalization to reading new words and nonwords was 40% to 50% on the first encounter for all children who acquired the entire word set during learning. In Experiment 2, the same pattern of results was obtained for delayed readers in Grade 2.