Within the US Department of Education's new flexibility initiative, there are three key principles, each with areas of focus. The third of these is that State Education Agencies (SEAs) must develop and implement systems of determining and supporting effective instruction and leadership within schools. This brief looks at websites, documents, and…

There are numerous publications on language learner strategies, and this bibliography of books is by no means exhaustive. They have been selected because they can be considered classics in the field and are easily available as this special issue of the "Language Learning Journal" goes to press. Though some of the books were written several decades…

Direct Instruction (DI) is a pedagogical method that has come to be seen as the principal alternative to whole language reading instruction. Its development is attributed to Siegfried Engelmann, from the University of Illinois, in the mid-1960s. DI was originally developed as an instructional method in both mathematics and reading. This topical…

Although there is a substantial research knowledge base in the field of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), this topical bibliography and commentary suggests that much misinformation still persists. The articles that form the basis for this topical bibliography and commentary agree on the approach that is most effective for ESL…

Most research supports the teaching of language arts in an integrated program. This topical bibliography and commentary addresses: how integrated language arts is carried out by school administrations; how integrated language arts is carried out by the teacher; whether integrated instruction helps improve learning performance in reading and…

This topical bibliography and commentary highlights the major points of the available literature on the value of using a "thematic organization" for the teaching of language arts classes in grades 6 through 8. It begins with a definition of the thematic organization approach, as culled from the literature. It then presents briefly a few examples…

Grammar study needs to be functional. Learners need to have a sense of how knowledge of grammar can help them communicate more effectively, both orally and in writing. The focus of grammar instruction is shifting from repetition and rote drills, memorizing parts of speech, and diagramming to develop an awareness of language in general and how it…

After defining whole language as a philosophy of literacy instruction based on the concept that students need to experience language as an integrated whole, this ERIC "FAST Bib" presents an annotated list of 35 ERIC documents and journal articles consisting of critiques of and responses to the whole language approach in the elementary school. The…

This annotated bibliography of material from the ERIC database presents 87 annotations on the topic of the "whole" whole-language debate. Entries in the bibliography are grouped under the topics of philosophy and analysis; the struggle for a definition; comparative analyses of whole language versus traditional approaches; and application…

Teachers of second language writing classes are faced with the task of choosing writing methods that provide their students the greatest opportunity to gain writing skills, but there is a lack of research in this area. This topical bibliography and commentary reviews existing research on second language writing instruction. It concludes that free…

A 59-item annotated bibliography on language arts instruction for the gifted organizes research into three main categories: (1) instruction of gifted students in tracked classrooms; (2) instruction of gifted students in mainstreamed or heterogeneous classrooms; and (3) instruction of gifted and nongifted toward the goal of developing higher level…

One in a series of seven bibliographies dealing with rehabilitation of disabled Native Americans, this document focuses on special education issues. The 80 annotated entries were identified through a comprehensive search of relevant data bases covering the years 1966-1986 and were selected to be of use to consumers, policy makers, direct service…

This document consists of the first two issues of a newsletter designed to disseminate information about the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, to serve as a forum for the research activities of scholars and practitioners in the field, and to reach other interested professional and parent groups. The first issue (which is also…