Culturally relevant text selection and pedagogy support students' motivation, engagement, literacy outcomes, and positive identity formation. Nevertheless, there is limited research on teacher preparation that fosters these outcomes. We explore 17 preservice teachers' challenges and successes with culturally relevant text selection and pedagogy…

As more districts begin implementing the Common Core State Standards, text complexity is receiving a lot of discussion. It is important for educators to understand the numerous factors involved with text complexity and to have a wide range of strategies to support students with challenging text. This paper shares data from three elementary…

Provides guidelines for teaching reading in a multicultural framework. Discusses why, when, and how to use multicultural literature. Offers criteria for choosing good multicultural literature. (RS)

Suggests using children's classics to promote interest in reading and lists several favorites in the categories of adventure, humor and fantasy, stories of family life, and historical fiction and history. (MKM)

Asserts that intermediate grade teachers should use poetry in the classroom. Offers criteria for selecting poetry, guidelines for its presentation, and strategies for involving the students. (PRA)

Argues that to personalize the social studies for students, textbook units of study should be accompanied by well-chosen, related fictional readings. Argues that teacher-directed activities focusing on the fictional stories can reinforce concepts, attitudes, and skills in the social studies for students at all grade levels. (RS)

Children's books are an important classroom resource for the study of animals because it is not practical for students to study many animals in their natural habitat. This article is the result of a collaborative research project undertaken by a science methods specialist and a children's literature specialist. We analyzed books about animals that…

Presents specific teaching ideas designed to (1) provide a model for better literature-based instruction through comparison of well chosen books that foster curiosity; (2) offer classroom literature experiences that foster enjoyment and learning; and (3) assist teachers to learn by doing--to improve their own notions about and facility with…

Teacher implementation of the Accelerated Reader Program is as widespread as it is diverse in terms of classroom and campus application. This manuscript highlights the findings of an informal, pilot study that examined four categories regarding the Accelerated Reader Program. The categories include: (1) assessment; (2) aesthetics and text…