Extensive research over the years indicates that there are at least five essential components teachers can include in their classroom to help their students comprehend and learn. These features include: (1) giving background and connecting to students' prior knowledge; (2) providing a strong vocabulary program; (3) setting aside ample opportunity…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 created the Reading First program to help ensure that all students could read at or above grade level by the end of grade 3. The program promotes practices recommended by the National Reading Panel for early reading instruction, highlighting essential components of reading instruction. As required by the…

For simple vocabulary items, the amount that subjects can learn during a given period of study is markedly underestimated when unusually slow presentation rates are imposed. That disadvantage apparently is less when subjects use the keyword mnemonic. The use of self-pacing or of multiple-rate conditions is suggested. (Author/LMO)

The Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) field continues to experience increased valuing of experiential practitioner knowledge. A welcome result of this evolution has been the broadening of research perspectives. The 16 practitioner narratives in "Insights on Teaching Speaking in TESOL" are written by…

Describes an eight-week model role-play project applicable to second language classes on secondary, college, and adult levels. The project was found to result in a greater variety in the students' acquired vocabulary, improved written work, enriched cultural knowledge, and an unusual classroom atmosphere. (Author/SED)