A text's meaning is, in part, independent of its form. Reading, most of the time, is taking meaning--not words--from the printed page, while proofreading requires attention to form rather than meaning. The author notes that: (1) a meaningful passage is easier to read than one with less meaning; (2) errors in oral reading usually do not obscure a…

When using outside sources in their writing, students must learn to balance efficiency with effectiveness. In other words, they must express themselves clearly and quickly, providing readers with enough explicit information to create a causal chain based on reasonable inferences. Yet they must guard against being overly explicit, boring their…

To describe a cross-curriculum writing model designed for a middle school, this paper provides a condensed script of what the designer of the program said and did during its first year to steer the program in a productive direction. The paper is written in the form of exerpts from relevant conversations. The first conversation relates how the idea…

This collection of Peace Corps stories is designed for use by grades 7-12 language arts teachers. The collection is divided into two sections, (1) Peace Corps Stories; and (2) Curriculum Units. The first section contains nine Peace Corps texts around which the lesson plans are organized. Representing a variety of literary genres (personal…

Compared to 92 low-achieving and high-achieving students, 46 intermediate grade learning-disabled students wrote compositions, wrote summaries, and produced comprehension recalls that were less organized and contained fewer ideas. Interviews indicated that learning-disabled students possessed less knowledge about processes related to…

Readers as well as writers compose meaning. Using the same characteristics essential to effective writing--planning, drafting, aligning, revising, and monitoring--readers react creatively with the text. In response to the author's intention and their own knowledge base, they decide what they want to get from their reading. Constantly renegotiating…

In response to teachers' requests for specific information about implementing the curriculum in the Expository Writing Program (EWP), this manual presents the instructional methods and materials used during the Teaching Expository Reading and Writing Project. First, the lines of research that formed the basis for the instructional program are…

Argues that composing and comprehending are process-oriented thinking skills that are basically interrelated, and suggests ways that these skills can be taught. (JL)

Offers suggestions for successful instruction in precis writing--a paraphrase or abstract that condenses an original composition but retains its information, essence, and point of view. Observes that this is a strategy that develops vocabulary, promotes critical reading and comprehension, and improves learning in general. (HOD)

A reading program was developed as an educational project to benefit Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Students at each grade level (kindergarten through grade eight) read stories and answer comprehension questions. Pledges are made by parents and friends for each question answered. The stories are about: diseases, accidents,…

This booklet (one of a series of 10 booklets in a reading project to benefit Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky) contains five stories especially written for kindergarten children by educators. The stories are about: the importance of using a seatbelt; a child's first experience of a hospital; a visit to an emergency room; a…

This booklet (one of a series of 10 booklets in a reading project to benefit Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky) contains nine stories especially written for first graders by educators. The stories are about: illness and accidents; accident prevention; children's reactions to hospital stays; the first day of school; a death in the…

This booklet (one of a series of 10 booklets in a reading project to benefit Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky) contains 10 stories especially written for second graders by educators. The stories are about: illness and accidents; accident prevention; children's reactions to hospital stays; the death of a pet; a child's view of…

This booklet (one of a series of 10 booklets in a reading project to benefit Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky) contains 10 stories especially written for third graders by educators. The stories are about: various kinds of disabilities; accidents and accident prevention; childhood illnesses; children's reactions to hospital stays;…

This booklet (one of a series of 10 booklets in a reading project to benefit Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky) contains 10 stories especially written for fourth graders by educators. The stories are about: children's feelings about disease and treatment; accidents and accident proneness; children's reactions to the death by…