Basal readers can be found in several locations in the University of Illinois Library.
The primary location for recent materials is the Curriculum Collection in the Education
and Social Science Library. Current basal readers for the most recent twenty years are housed
in this location. Readers from the 1800's to the last twenty years are maintained in a
storage area of the Education and Social Science Library. Access to this area, for
security reasons, must be arranged with the Education Subject Specialist.
Additional readers are located in the main bookstacks (2nd floor, Main Library) and the Rare Book and Manuscript Library (346 Library). In order to locate cataloged readers, the following subject headings should be checked in the the online catalog.
Subject Headings
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Basal Reading Instruction
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Readers (Primary)
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Hornbooks
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Readers (Secondary)
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Primers
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Reading
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Readers
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Textbooks
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Readers (Elementary)
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Textbooks--History
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Questions? Ask a librarian.
Following are some items which may be of interest:
x808.88
W395a
1793
(Rare Book)
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An American selection of lessons in reading
and speaking 4th ed. (Noah Webster). 1793.
Originally published in 1785, this was the first reader commonly used in primary schools to teach students reading, spelling, grammar, and composition. Sections focus on reading, speaking, dialogues, and poetry.
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372.41 B29
(ESSL)
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Basal Readers: A Second Look 1994.
This sequel to the 1988 Report Card on Basal Readers contains essays written by classroom teachers and reading educators who advocate for the whole-language system of teaching.
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010.6
BSP
v. 43, no. 4
(Stacks)
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Early primers for the use of children. The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America. v. 43, no. 4. 1949.
This 1949 article found in the "Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America" discusses the inception of primers in the 16th Century.
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x428.6
B581h
1830
(Rare Book)
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The Historical Reader. Stereotype edition. 1830.
First published in 1825, this reader covers the historical topics of the Creation, the Deluge, Tower of Babel, Trojan War, Fall of Rome, Gun-powder Treason (Guy Fawkes); Bunker Hill, Battle of Trafalgar, including a very graphic description of the death of Lord Nelson, and ends with a poetic address to The Deity.
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372.41
IM7
(ESSL)
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Improving Basal Reading Instruction 1989.
As stated in the preface, "this text is designed to apply current theory and research in reading and reading instruction …to provide teachers with usable, conceptually sound guidelines for improving basal reading instruction."
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428.407
L478
(ESSL)
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Learning to read in American schools: basal readers and content texts 1984.
Discusses the plentiful research done in regards to reading education over the last decade. Sections focus on reading comprehension instruction, stories in basal readers and trade books, appraising text difficulty, content area textbooks, teachers' guides, and workbooks.
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428.6
M17m
1867a
(Rare Book)
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McGuffey's Newly Revised Eclectic Primer 1867.
One of the many books in McGuffey's "Eclectic Educational Series", this volume is geared towards young, new readers in their earliest exposure to reading. By using simple words, easy sentences and illustrations, this primer intends not only to teach children to read, but also to impart new and creative ideas.
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372.414
W49m
(ESSL)
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Moving Forward with Literature: Basals, Books, and Beyond 1993.
The goal of this book is to aid teachers in formulating their own homemade
reading-writing programs, rather than becoming dependent on prepackaged lesson
plans. With chapters based on teachers' personal experiences, this book shows the
evolution of teaching with basal readers to teaching with trade books across the
curriculum.
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TEXT.
372.4
SCOTT
1962
(Ed. Storage)
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The New Basic Readers (Dick and Jane). Scott Foresman. 1962.
Also known and the "Dick and Jane" books, these books featured simple stories about life and home through the characters Dick, Jane, Sally, Spot, and Puff. This series is best known for utilizing the "whole word" reading system.
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372.41
T67r
(Stacks)
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Reading without Dick and Jane. 1965.
Takes a critical look at the problems of "Dick and Jane" series. The author suggests that the series limited comprehension skills due to one-dimensionality and repetition of simple words while reinforcing gender inequalities and stereotypes.
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372.41
R31
(Oak)
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Report Card on Basal Readers. 1988.
"Critical analysis of the history and content of basal readers and how they hinder the teaching of reading. Includes discussion of tests included in basals and the relationship between basals and standardized tests."
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MFICHE
428.6
Am35
(ESSL)
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American Primers
This collection of primers, generally the first book used to teach reading, provides a microfiche copy of primers, spellers, and alphabet books published from the 1700’s to the mid-1930’s.
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Location codes:
Curr. Coll. - Curriculum Collection, Education and Social Science Library
Ed. Storage - Education and Social Science Library Storage
ESSL - Education and Social Science Library
Rare Book - Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Stacks - Main Library Bookstacks
Oak - Oak Street Storage Facility (requests only)
« Return to Curriculum Collection Page
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