There are many effective strategies that can be used to support student learning from expository text, but how do teachers choose and use them? The authors provide readers with a process for selecting instructional strategies that embed literacy instruction into teaching with content area text. A a veteran sixth-grade teacher is followed as she…

Focuses on materials that would be appropriate for use in campus after-school programs; in programs at neighborhood, community, or church resource centers; or in the home for family literacy. Discusses the value of creating literacy backpacks or writing suitcases that go back and forth between the home and the school. (SG)

Describes a tool for finding texts that match children's decoding skills. Begins with an overview of current thinking and research on the use of decodable text in beginning reading instruction. Presents five steps to show how teachers can locate decodable texts that match and supplement their phonics instruction. (SG)

Presents some examples of bilingual and Spanish materials that can be prepared in the classroom based on current practical theories on the teaching of literacy. Describes ways to incorporate the alphabet into bilingual activities. Considers the use of an illustrated songbook. (SG)

Suggests guidelines for selecting African American children's literature of high literary and artistic qualities for grades K-3. Presents guidelines for all teachers, whether they have African American children in their classrooms or not. Provides a list of 27 selected recent books with an African American context that meet the same criteria for…

Discusses Readers Theatre, an instructional activity that combines several effective research-based practices, and leads to increased engagement with literacy even in very resistant readers. Considers the theory and research behind Readers Theatre. Describes the process of choosing and writing texts for performance, and preparing for performances.…

Discusses the selection criteria of reinforcement in phonics materials. Reports on a search for phonics materials which met the criteria of having an appropriate amount of reinforcement, high transfer potential, and high content validity. Finds that "Signals Video Learning Series" is a satisfactory phonics program. (MG)

Notes that a major goal within the language arts block is learning to recognize and write the letters of the alphabet. Presents 4 reasons that have been suggested as to why early letter knowledge exerts such a strong influence over learning to read and write. Presents descriptions of 12 websites dealing with the alphabet. (SG)