This paper presents lists of books about pets and pet care, a list of pet theme ideas, an anticipation guide, and a list of community and professional resources. The 23-item list of books about pets and pet care (published between 1940 and 1994) is divided into sections on teacher's choices, nonfiction, recent books, and teacher resources. The…

Describes a two-week unit about Benjamin Franklin, and discusses what happens when 9- and 10-year olds use their own language and life experiences to learn new content. (SR)

Describes "Character Interviews," a class activity that guides children, especially reluctant readers, to the meaning of a story through a thoughtful understanding of character as they consider a character's emotions and motives, to respond to a question as that character would. Describes the interview process. Offers sample interviews…

Describes author-reader-text interactions which play roles in both revision in writing and critical reading. Examines the processes of revision in writing and critical reading as thought processes mirroring one another. Presents two examples of group classroom activities which nurture revision in both writing and critical reading. (MM)

Presents sample questions for use as a guide for teachers to question students about literature and to model effective questioning techniques for them. Details topics, including literary characteristics; setting; vocabulary; general questions; characters; author; plot, theme, mood, and moral; and illustrations-pictures. (KDFB)

Encourages the use of storytelling in the classroom as a method for developing verbal, written, and reading skills, as well as non-verbal communication skills. Offers guidelines and specific activities for involving students in storytelling. (RAE)

Discusses the picture books of Leo Lionni and describes how Vivian Gussin Paley, a Chicago elementary school teacher, used his books for an entire year's curriculum in her kindergarten class. Highlights include children's engagement with literature, and other learning activities based on the books. (LRW)

Explores how students take what they understand through reading and talking about literature and express their ideas in art, drama, music, or math. Argues that one way learners push their understandings and create more complex meanings is through such transmediation. Offers examples of responding to literature through multiple sign systems. (SR)

Intended as a guide for teachers of grades 3-6, this book presents ideas for the use of literature groups in the classroom. In chapter 1, the author talks about her own reading background and her discovery of teaching methods for literature, and presents ideas for forming literature groups. Chapter 2 offers advice on selecting and collecting good…

Multicultural books can make cultural awareness and appreciation an integral part of the classroom. This article examines various books that convey positive recognition of peoples' differences and similarities and that teach history, geography, nature, culture, problem solving, art, creativity, and race relations. (SM)

Focusing on the need to offer and encourage the experience of reading literature in elementary schools, the essays in this book (1) explicate the range of theory known as reader-response criticism; (2) argue its distinctive relevance to the needs of young, developing readers; and (3) indicate how classroom practices might be changed to accommodate…

Encourages the use of narratives and literature to teach social studies and develop students' cultural literacy as suggested by the 1988 California History-Social Science Framework. Applies these ideas to a second grade unit in which students read selected stories and conduct family history research projects. (NL)

Defines story grammar, reviews pertinent research, and describes classroom activities based on research findings. (NKA)

Offers 58 suggestions for eliciting students' responses to literature, which will enhance reading development, critical thinking, writing quality, and personal expression. Includes writing activities, speaking activities about a book, drama presentations, media presentations, artistic representations, and literature response journal entries. Notes…