The Basal approach is a series of graded readers, workbooks, and
supplementary materials designed for use in grades 1-8.
Advantages
I. Well organized, each skill is presented in a sequential order.
2. Good scope and sequence; skills are taught continuously throughout all of the
grades.
3. Teacher's manual is full of ideas to be used.
4. Readers are colorful, well illustrated, and contain a variety of literature
appropriate for each age.
5. Includes systematic instruction in word recognition, comprehension, and some
study skills with a gradual introduction of each new skill.
6. A big help to a beginning teacher.
7. Some contain criterion-referenced tests to check skill mastery.
8. Some have an IRI for placement.
9. Stories attempt to be multi-ethnic and non-stereotyping of women.
Limitations
1. Readability. The stories often vary widely in grade level within a reader.
2. Teachers have a tendency to regard the guide as The Source instead of as a as a guide.
3. Recreational reading for pleasure is often neglected..
4. Pacing of introduction of new skills is too rapid for some and too slow for
others.
5. Students tend to be placed into readers which are too difficult or too easy for
them.
6. Stories are sometimes dull..
7. Teachers tend to use the basal as the entire reading.
8. Not personalized.
9. Not individualized enough.
10. The language in the beginning readers doesn't always match that of the child.
11. Stories at the beginning levels may be dull and unnatural in language
patterns.
