Methods IDENTIFIERS *Phonological Awareness

A study compared the benefits of phonological awareness instruction along with and without a phonics computer software program to improve phonological and reading skills in elementary students with mild mental disabilities. During the eight weeks of the study in the fall of 1999, elementary resource students were taught phonological awareness skills using intensive instruction in the "Herman Method for Reversing Reading Failure," the "Phonological Awareness Book, " and other reading activities. The 31 students in the study were randomly divided into control and treatment groups. After the core reading activity, while the treatment group used the Davidson Company "Phonics " computer software program, the control group did a different supplemental reading activity with other computer software programs, reading/language games, worksheets, or free reading. Two tests were used as the pretests and posttests for the study. All scores were averaged together for the final pretest and posttest scores. The statistical analysi