Healthcare & Technologies

Biography

Biography: Gail M Wolf

Abstract

Statement of Problem: Poor early literacy can be viewed as a chronic disease process that is a public health concern. Data shows children’s failure to develop simple word decoding skills in early years is linked to future poor reading, school dropout teen pregnancy, low self-esteem, entrance into crime, and life-long poor health. Letter-sound knowledge is needed for word decoding development; however questions remain on what types of letter-sound knowledge help children decode simple words.

This study investigated the differences in mean number of consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words decoded between two groups of children, a letter-sound reading group and non-letter-sound reading group. Children aged 4 to 6 in both groups attempted to decode a variety of simple words such as tan, sit, hen, pig, dot, and fun.

Analysis determined word decoding differences existed between the two groups. The letter-sound reading group had a significantly higher mean in number of CVC words decoded compared to the non-letter-sound reading group. The study informs the teaching approaches needed to improve early decoding skills showing letter-sound reading ability is an important step for learning to decode simple consonant-vowel-consonant words. Further, promoting early literacy, promotes life-long health, well-being, and living a productive life.

Recent Publications

1. Wolf, G.M. (2016).  Letter-sound reading: Teaching preschool children print-to-sound processing.  Early Childhood Education Journal, 44(1), 11-19. doi: 10.1007/s10643-014-0685-y

2. Wolf, G.M. (2014). Differences in Mean Number of Consonant-Vowel-Consonant Words Decoded between Letter-Sound Readers and Non Letter-Sound Readers. Open Journal of Nursing, 4, 409-450. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2014.46047

3. Wolf, G. M. (2015). Selected to present at Oregon’s Statewide Head Start Early Childhood Specialist Conference:  April 9, 2015, Redmond, Oregon at Eagle Crest Resort. Bend, Oregon. Presentation is dissemination of National Institute of Health (NIH) grant research data results of early literacy and impact on health.

4. Wolf, G.M. (2013). Selected to present at National Institute of Healthcare Advancement’s (IHA) 10^th Annual Health Literacy Conference.  Irving, California. Poster on Innovations in Reading Instruction the connection between early literacy and living a productive, health life.

5. Wolf, G.M. (1998). The three ingredient reading program: You can teach your child to read. Mesa, AZ: Blue Bird Publishing. [2^nd edition in process, 2017].