Ponders the dilemmas of teaching and learning how to learn from reading (using the "fortunately/unfortunately" pattern from Remy Charlip's book "Fortunately.") (SR)

Discusses three basic principles of whole learning that provide the framework for course instruction: (1) literacy processes are used on a daily basis; (2) students are given much opportunity to use and practice what is learned; and (3) learning is a social process. Notes that preservice teachers are resistant to implement content area reading…

Presents an annotated list of 13 books, 6 chapters, 6 articles, and a videotape that were recommended reading for elementary educators regarding reading to learn (content area reading, reading expository text, studying). (RS)

Discusses ways to integrate literature with rural themes into content-area teaching for rural elementary students, including such methods as read-aloud sessions, a classroom reading center, and sustained silent reading. Outlines 10 daily lesson plans integrating textbook and literature in an example of a fourth-grade social studies unit on the…

Advocates synergistic pedagogy, in which all the school subjects are related and taught in such a manner that they are almost inseparable. Demonstrates how this might be done with an interdisciplinary theme on the stars. (SR)

A study examined the attitudes of educators toward content area reading in the early elementary grades. A self-report survey instrument called the Attitudes Toward Content Area Reading (ATCAR) was developed to measure educators' attitudes and to ascertain whether there were different theoretical orientations of educators relative to content area…

Describes a summer school English-as-a-Second-Language classroom that uses a content-rich whole language curriculum. Highlights experiences that were successful in facilitating literacy development, including reading experiences, writing experiences, talking and reading, and talking and writing. Discusses the effectiveness of the instructional…

A teacher of elementary deaf students describes the value of using "big books," which allow groups of students to share text and pictures, as an effective learning resource both for deaf students and for older students with learning disabilities. Seventeen big books in such areas as multicultural education, science and industry,…

Pointing out that influential movements in psychology, reading instruction, and curriculum development have greatly altered the terrain formerly occupied by the "teaching of literature," this literature review outlines the different ways education researchers have examined the following questions about literature instruction: (1) What…

Using a dinosaur unit as an example throughout the chapters, this book presents an organizational plan for developing a thematic unit for literature-based instruction for grades K-6. The book is designed as a resource for preservice and inservice teachers new to literature-based instruction. The book shows how a content topic can be used as a…

A literature-based approach across the curriculum helps students to personalize content-area curricula, to enjoy reading a diversity of subject-matter materials, and to improve attitudes toward reading. Teachers, supervisors, and administrators can cooperatively support literature-based practice across the curriculum by creating a positive…

Intended for classroom teachers, this book presents classroom practices grounded in theory and focused on process. The first chapter provides the knowledge base that unifies the entire book and lays the foundation for whole language instruction. The second chapter discusses three classrooms that exemplify the whole language classrooms where the…

"Think Big" is a thematic literary unit, using literature about elephants in a holistic way and attempting to cross the curriculum into the content areas of science and math. It is a way of expanding the basal reading series and providing appropriate and supportive instruction in a cooperative, more interactive learning environment. To…

Suggesting that a whole language approach can build a foundation that gives all primary students an opportunity to succeed, this book presents nine thematic units (with suggestions for presenting specific skills on a weekly basis) designed to support the skills necessary for creating a strong literacy foundation. Lesson plans in the book are keyed…

Designed to inspire teachers to explore trade books in new ways, this book presents chapters dealing with historical fiction, diversity education, informational books in the social studies, literature in the math class, and supplementary reading materials for the science instruction. Although each chapter in the book focuses on a specific content…