Reading

Models

America M. Atega
 Reading Models
is a graphic attempt “to depict
how an individual perceives a
word, processes a clause, and
comprehends a text.”
(Singer and Ruddell 1985)

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Reading Models

• Top-Down
• Bottom-Up
• Interactive

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"Reading is a receptive language process.  It
is a psycholinguistic guessing game
(1967). 
There is an essential interaction between
language and thought in reading. 
The writer encodes thought as language
and the reader decodes language as
thought." 
Kenneth Goodman (1988).

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 Top-Down Model
– Emphasizes what the reader brings to the
text, such as prior knowledge and
experiences
– Says comprehension begins in the mind of the
reader, who already has some ideas about
the meaning of the text
– Proceeds from whole to part
(Whole Language Approach)

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 Top-Down Model
• Cognitive based = Meaning-driven
• Researcher = K. Goodman
• Key Features: Meaning does not require
100% word identification. Meaning is
important
• Assessment: Knowledge constructed
through meaning
• Problem: Lack of experience with
words, text or activities
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 Bottom-Up Model
– Emphasizes the written or printed text
– Says comprehension begins by
processing the smallest linguistic unit
(phoneme), and working toward larger
units (syllables, words, phrases,
sentences)
– Proceeds from part to whole
(Phonics Approach)

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 Bottom-Up Model
• Behaviorist based = Skills-driven
• Researcher = P. Gough
• Key features: letter name, shapes, letter
relationships, words meaning
• Method: drills, skills, practice in isolation, reader
learns to decode then can attend to meaning,
each word must be recognized for meaning
• Assessment: accuracy in skills, word
identification
• Problem: inability to decode

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 Interactive Model

• Recognizes the interaction

of bottom-up and top-down
processes simultaneously
throughout the reading
process.
(Balanced Approach)
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“No matter how
busy you may think
you are, you must
find time for
reading, or
surrender yourself
to self-chosen
ignorance.” 

-Confucius
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