This article focuses on the evolution of the classroom literacy block as a learning space where teachers and students renegotiated activities for independent vocabulary and word work within a high-stakes reform environment. When a second grade classroom teacher and literacy support specialist decided to co-teach, they invited all students in the…

Recently, transactional reader response theory has been criticized for providing an inadequate theoretical guide for the study of multicultural literature. Some scholars argue that Rosenblatt assumes the reader and her response to literature are ideologically innocent and the continuum of aesthetic and efferent stance does not encompass critical…

Suggests strategies and questions which may be used to build readers' sensitivity to the relationship between their own values and the values expressed in what they read. (DD)

Expands the usual notion of critical reading from just the judgments readers make about the text to include judgments they make about their "reading" of the text. Describes activities to develop "executive" metacomprehension skills. (HTH)

Means of organizing a genre study within a reader's workshop to invite students into fantasy worlds is discussed by the teachers of fourth grade. The students can naturally get into critical reading by identifying the characteristics of fantasy.

Examines materials in the ERIC system offering teaching ideas and activities designed to promote critical and creative thinking and reading. Discusses the role of teacher questioning techniques and writing to structure thoughts. (HTH)

Discusses classroom situations that foster superficial discussion of literature and suggests that teachers focus on what students write rather than how, in order to encourage open exchange of ideas. (HTH)

Transcripts of writing conferences and of interviews with students illustrate both the changes in the way students evaluate writing and the teaching strategies that sharpen evaluative skills. (RL)