Describes the Reader's Workshop and the Focused Study Reading Workshop. Offers them as a way to accommodate the characteristics of individuals, to respect the knowledge of readers who are at earlier stages of reading development, to establish a system which teaches problem solving, and to provide for active child involvement and ownership in the…

Answers the five following common objections to the whole language approach: Haven't we tried this all before? What will happen to the child if some teachers use whole language and others don't? Where does the teacher find the time to do all this? Where's the proof that it works? and And what about the future? (PRA)

Describes the positive experiences of veteran teachers who have switched from basal reading to the whole language approach. (PRA)

Clarifies the term "emergent literacy" and reviews significant informal assessment techniques, record-keeping systems, and reporting measures appropriate for emergent literacy. Discusses guidelines for whole-language assessment. Suggests areas of evaluation to be considered for inclusion in a locally developed emergent literacy assessment system.…

Discusses a teacher's perspective on the whole language approach to reading instruction, based on her observations of Australian students. Examines the theoretical frameworks, the materials used for instruction, the time allotted for instruction, the role of the teacher, the lesson format, and student motivation. (PRA)

Outlines four ways in which reading and writing are related. Identifies eight actions teachers should take to enhance literary development in their classrooms. Suggests two initiatives that teachers might take to enhance literacy in homes, schools, and communities. (PRA)

Presents three patterns of literature-based reading instruction and illustrates their role in the moving from a traditional reading program toward a whole language, literature-based reading program. (MG)

Identifies quantitative research regarding whole language. Includes studies on preschool literacy, literature and basal reading, at-risk first grade children, whole language and traditional approaches to beginning reading, students' writing ability, whole language and older students, and implementation. Concludes that whole language may be more…

Describes the reorganization of teacher education methods courses at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Lists whole language tenets, large group session topics, and sample integrations for prekindergarten through middle school grades. Asserts that the experience demonstrated the benefits of the whole language philosophy. (PRA)