Canadian schools are witnessing widening gaps between traditional definitions of literacy, which include reading and writing, and contemporary literacy practices like interactive multimedia use and online communications. Language and literacy teachers are called upon daily to bridge these contradictions through the pedagogical and textual choices…

This paper presents one example of moments of tension from a yearlong ethnographic study conducted in a college intermediate Japanese-as-a-foreign-language classroom (Kumagai, 2004). I define moments of tension as those moments when conflicts arise between an instructor's teaching agenda and students' learning agenda. Conducting critical discourse…

This article explores our work with African American youth in an after-school community literacy program. We examine how a group of these students used a set of Internet-based technology tools to evaluate whether or not a group of colleges would affirm their cultural identity and help them succeed. What we learned from the students has caused us…

The implication of reading competence in developing reflection and thinking is an important issue for student teachers to consider. Reading is also a competence, in which the language at the disposal of a person is included, to use for social development and mutual understanding. This article is based on a case study and is concerned with how some…

Suggests that unity is the most important concept students must learn to be effective readers. (RB)

A common technique to aid in developing critical thinking skills is to suggest pertinent and key questions and recommend that readers engage in an internal dialogue to answer these questions. This approach can be used effectively in reading newspaper articles and will become more useful with practice. Twelve constructive questions that newspaper…

This bibliography contains 23 annotations of resources in the ERIC database (ranging from 1985 to 1989) on helping students develop higher level and analytical skills, such as critical reading and thinking. The citations include instructional strategies for teaching visual literacy, religion, spelling, reading, semiotics, problem solving,…

Using the format of a think-aloud protocol, this paper critically reviews a study from "The Journal of Reading" from the perspective of a not-so-typical high school reading teacher. In this situation the hypothetical secondary school reading teacher came from an English major background, had 15 years experience teaching reading and…

In view of Aristotle's remarks about requiring different kinds of proof in different subjects, the critical reader must make judgments about the quality of proof offered for a position. The four realms of knowledge, in decreasing order of certitude, include mathematics, empirical science, rhetoric (values, ethics, politics), and myth, or…

THE REACTIONS OF SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS TO THE SAME READINGS WERE STUDIED. THE READING REACTION ANALYSIS WAS GIVEN TO 73 SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ADVANTAGED AREAS AND TO 59 SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN DISADVANTAGED AREAS OF CINCINNATI, OHIO. RESPONSES TO THIS TEST AND…

LEARNING THE BASIC SKILLS OF READING AND WRITING IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD COMPREHEND, AND REACT CRITICALLY TO, THE IDEAS AND PROBLEMS ABOUT WHICH THEY READ. STUDENTS WHO WERE CONSIDERED MATURE READERS COULD DISTINGUISH FACT FROM OPINION, DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CONNOTATIVE AND DENOTATIVE LANGUAGE, AND DRAW…

A systematic approach for analysis of dyadic communication in literary works is proposed which is based on a work by Watzlawick, Beavin, and Jackson. This interdisciplinary methodology using behavioral science approaches to analyze literature consists primarily in studying relationship aspects of dyadic communication, as differentiated from…

This booklet is designed to provide some starter ideas for teachers to use in developing their own packet of learning materials. The procedures suggested and the examples included are literally starters. "Introduction to Survival Learning Materials" presents some procedures to help teachers get started in developing materials. "Following…