Through this article, we describe an instructional strategy termed "Beautiful Books." This strategy involves the creation of images and texts to be used in the development of oral and literacy skills. We explore the historical roots of the strategy in Language Experience Approach (LEA) and Whole language and consider how dictation and early…

Teacher research has a long, rich history. However, teacher research is primarily limited to practicing teachers and those pursuing graduate education. It is only beginning to be used as means of understanding the instructional needs of English learners. In this article, a preservice teacher and her university instructor describe the role of…

Describes the difficulties children face in learning the special language used to talk about reading and its relation to speech. (DD)

An annotated bibliography of 11 books to help teachers use the language experience approach to teach reading. (DD)

Reviews recent innovations in language arts instruction and provides lists of materials children read and books children might make. (DD)

A bibliography of journal articles related to language experience as an alternative to traditional methods of teaching reading. (HTH)

Reviews recent ERIC resources for creating integrated learning environments. (DD)

Shows teachers who use language experience activities in their classrooms how to use microcomputers efficiently to increase students' reading and writing experiences. (RL)

Establishes five premises on which language-centered reading is based and makes five recommendations for language-centered reading instruction. (DD)

Discusses two pilot studies which validated a "Language Experience Checklist." (DD)

Interviews Ralph Peterson of Arizona State University about S.M.I.L.E., a group of teachers taking control of their own learning. The group was formed to Support, Maintain, and Implement Language Experience in teaching. (HTH)

An organic approach to the teaching of reading emphasizes the selection of vocabulary from the experiential background of the child. (JH)

Describes a study of the development of reading and writing skills in hearing impaired children indicating that both hearing and hearing impaired students can best be instructed in reading when the reading has meaning for them and with stories they choose themselves and with dictations taken from their own experience. (HTH)

Describes a spur-of-the-moment curriculum development activity involving primary-school students researching the "real" Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo behind the names of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Notes that the products of the research were shared during a classroom pizza party. (RS)

Discusses the effect of previous knowledge on reading comprehension. Suggests reading instruction methods that evoke the readers' experiences, or schemata, relevant to the material. (HTH)