A practicum was designed and implemented to foster 24 second graders' literacy and language development via child-centered as opposed to curriculum-centered experiences. The primary goal was to improve students' quality and quantity of writing by allowing extra time, much exposure to more and various non-basal literature, hands-on activities, and…

Explores what second-grade students learned about reading, writing, and literature through a year-long program of strategy instruction integrated within a literature-based environment. Reveals that students grew in overall instructional reading level, coming to view reading as a natural component of the school day; developed skill in word…