American Reading Instruction —
Abstract of

Chapter Two
The Period of Religious Emphasis in Reading Instruction

Nila Banton Smith

This chapter describes the motives, methods, and materials that characterized reading instruction in the United States from 1607 to 1776. Tracing religious and cultural influences from England and within the developing colonies, the author discusses how religion directly affected the curriculum, policies, and materials used in education and reading instruction during this period. The author takes an in-depth look at the development of materials such as the Hornbook, the ABC, Psalters, primers, and spellers. A discussion of teaching methods during the period concludes the chapter.

Smith, N. (2002). The Period of Religious Emphasis in Reading Instruction. In American Reading Instruction (pp. 9-32). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.