Offers research topics and three class activities designed to explore the implications of sexism while building reading and writing skills. (RL)

Suggests that lifelong learning will depend on the development of cognitive skills, but that such skills can be elusive and cannot in general be picked up in specialized courses or workshops. Supports this position by literature references followed by further suggestions for a course of action for the development of language facility through close…

Suggests that reading students be taught to write symbolic codes alongside the text to identify new terms, similarities in ideas, cause-effect relationships, important or difficult ideas, etc.; and to use mnemonics to record their responses to the text (e.g., whether they were bored, confused, surprised, or in agreement). (PAA)

Investigates the issue of pluralistic readings and how they can be compared with each other, justified, and evaluated. Looks particularly at the five rhetorical analyses of Lucretia Coffin Mott's speech on women which follows this article. (TB)

Draws from the text of "Jack" (a story about a teenager dealing with his father's homosexuality) several narratives from class discussions. Analyzes the teaching and learning in the middle school class and the teacher's role. Presents responses from Patricia Enciso and Lauren Myracle which comment on this article. (PA)

The R.I.T.E. method is described, an activity that enables gifted students to use a multifaceted approach to develop the kinds of critical reading skills necessary for constructing meaning as they read an informational text. The steps of the R.I.T.E. method (Read, Interrogate, Tell, and Explore) are outlined. (Contains 6 references.) (CR)

In the past two decades, substantial changes in pedagogy, advances in technology, and new emphases on critical reading, writing, and thinking across the curriculum have swept the educational landscape of the United States. Although "many students are familiar with some technological elements (notably e-mail and Web browsing), few demonstrate the…

Drawing on data gathered during a fourteen-month study of reading practices among poor and working-class girls, this essay explores the challenges of creating a responsive and critical reading pedagogy across boundaries of class. Set largely in a summer and after-school reading program for pre-teen girls, the study addressed the question of how a…

This paper draws on research that has recently been conducted in Australia on the possibility of formulating professional standards for teachers of English in primary and secondary schools. English teachers around the country have played a vital role in the project, writing stories in an effort to capture "accomplished" English teaching,…

Traditional views of critical thinking instruction focus on teaching students to develop skeptical responses to the texts they read. Genuinely powerful and generative forms of critical thinking, however, require students to read creatively as well. To balance the rigor of analysis and exorbitance of creativity, a freshman honors seminar was…

An undergraduate course in children's literature was developed at De Montfort University in Bedford, England, United Kingdom (UK). In a children's literature course for first year students from a variety of backgrounds, age groups, and future intents, it is important to consider the discourse of children's literature, to trace intertextual…

Designed to help students improve their understanding of everything they read, especially the types of reading selections that they will find on standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT), this guide explains the 3 key steps to strategic reading: preview before reading, underline and annotate while reading, and summarize after reading. It…

Providing a context for discussion rather than an insider's point of view, this report discusses the current state of reading research. The report reviews differing visions of educational reform of reading instruction espoused by supporters of phonics and by supporters of the whole language approach. The report then proposes four criteria for use…

It has been alleged that few American students can use their knowledge effectively in thinking and reasoning. This study urges teachers to give more attention to student abilities in analyzing, classifying, comparing, formulating hypotheses, and drawing conclusions--that is, thinking skills essential to reasoning processes. Designed to familiarize…

This individualized inservice packet on interpretive comprehension in the content areas provides teachers with instructional guidelines and information relating to the development of interpretive comprehension skills. It is one of a nine-part series of booklets--Teaching Teen Reading--in self-instructional format intended as a practical resource…