First Lady Leaves Shaq Behind

Coinciding with the extension of President Bush's 'No Child Left Behind', Fisher-Price and Gallup today revealed the results of a survey of teachers' views of early learning methods. Aside from strong support for finger-point reading, there is a groundswell for Laura Bush as a guest celebrity reader, way ahead of Shaquille O'Neal and only a few points shy of Elmo from Sesame Street.

The national survey polled a cross section of preschool, kindergarten and first grade teachers in the USA about methods used and favoured in early education. Many of the results are expected - there is virtually unanimous encouragement of parents to read to their children at home (99%), to read out loud to children (98%) and to reread favorite and familiar stories (86%). Teachers surveyed also feel that talking about letters by name and sound (83%) and having children follow along as you read to them (67%) are also extremely important to the success of early reading.

Nine out of 10 surveyed teachers use their finger to point out words and encourage their students to use their finger while reading, a method referred to as 'finger-point reading'. Following a finger 'helps children learn about the relationship between speech and print', says James F. Christie, Ph.D., a professor at the College of Education, Arizona State University. 'It's a more natural way to learn to read and makes for a natural transition to real reading'. Despite the potential of computerised and interactive learning, following along in a book using a finger is considered far more natural than using a stylus (60% support vs 16%).

In perhaps the most entertaining question posed, respondents were given an eclectic selection of five 'celebrities' as potential guest readers and asked to choose. Bill Cosby came out comfortably in the lead with 36%, 9 points ahead of Elmo from Sesame Street. First Lady Laura Bush came commendably close (24%) to these two children's favourites and might be expected on this showing to make a second ballot [would that we had such a choice in the Presidential election - Ed.]. Shaquille O'Neal (6%) and Katie Couric (5%) are the stragglers, with two percent non-response to the question.

'The results ... help bring into focus what today's teachers deem as important methods for early reading success', says Neil Friedman, president of Fisher-Price. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. and is the leading brand of infant and preschool toys in the world. Fisher-Price will be launching a new PowerTouch(TM) Learning System soon - further info will appear on www.fisher-price.com by July 15.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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