Many students have experienced author visits, but one K-4 elementary school aimed to meet its school improvement goal to motivate writers through a yearlong collaboration with a published children's book author/illustrator, Ryan Hipp. This article details the positive components of the yearlong collaboration that included three in-person sessions…

Stresses the importance of setting clearly defined goals and objectives when determining class activities in reading instruction. (RB)

Notes that the goal of phonics instruction is to help students develop the alphabetic principle. Explains how the words "explicit" and "systematic" are used in multiple ways in the context of phonics instruction. Suggests that educators should engage in serious discussions about how multiple approaches to phonics instruction…

Argues that teaching techniques should be consistent with the objectives of the lesson and provides several examples. (RB)

Explains six tasks which require comprehension of words and which can be used to teach beginning readers. (MKM)

Analyzes a case of a struggling student writer who was not helped by good classroom techniques. Proposes that for educators to help struggling writers, they need to focus on both the student and the activity system within which the student works. Concludes that educators need to take account of: teachers' and children's ideas; organization for…

Describes way in which National Assessment of Educational Progress materials can be used by educators attempting to set instructional priorities and improve instructional programs. (JC)