Responds to Hiebert's 1994 article in Educational Researcher in which she criticized Reading Recovery (RR) advocates for failing to base RR's success on an adequate cost-benefit analysis. The authors suggest reliance on the informal judgements of local administrators rather than using administratively difficult, large-scale, cost-benefit analyses…

Effects of reading instruction maximizing students' cognitive engagement on Grade 1 to 5 reading achievement were examined over a school year for students in 9 high-poverty schools. Hierarchical linear modeling showed that several teaching variables explained substantial variation in reading achievement growth. The most consistent finding was that…

Encourages caregivers to engage children in oral language activities that will help children develop skills necessary for reading and writing. Examines: (1) oral language as a predecessor to reading; (2) talking leading to learning; and (3) rich oral environment as a scaffold. Concludes with examples of oral-language activities for infants,…

An analysis of educational desires found parents of children with Down syndrome (n=39) wanted changes in speech therapy and reading services, parents of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (n=25) wanted increases in adaptive physical education services, and parents of children with Williams syndrome (n=26) wanted increases in music services and…

This article introduces Project PREPARE, a 5-year project to develop a collaborative site of practice and inquiry between two universities, primary and elementary schools in a poor rural town, and the school district. During the collaboration, there were steady improvement in student achievement in reading and mathematics on multiple measures.…

Provides a mosaic of teachers' opinions on teaching literacy through social studies. All of the teachers interviewed felt a strong responsibility for improving their students' reading skills. Many of them revealed specific approaches and strategies for accomplishing this. (MJP)

Offers several ideas for making the study of poetry an exciting experience. Suggestions include reading the poems aloud so students can hear the varied sounds of poetry and feel the messages sent by the poet, reading silently for personal satisfaction, and creating and sharing poems. Lists questions that can precipitate and support discussion of a…

This article demonstrates procedures for implementing curriculum-based measurement and Gickling's model of curriculum-based assessment concurrently in a comprehensive assessment and intervention system by discussing three case studies. The examples include addressing reading and mathematical difficulties in a general education classroom and…

The relationships between reading proficiency and field independence/field dependence and sex were studied in 84 male and 79 female second graders. There were no significant gender differences in achievement or with the reading measures. Field-independent subjects were more proficient readers in the separate skill areas of reading than were…

Examines the nature of power over literacy (such as knowledge of print conventions, and experiences of participation in reading and writing activities) which children often possess when they begin school. Discusses ways in which teachers sometimes interfere with this power and how they can, instead, enhance it. (MM)

An investigation was conducted to determine how fifth graders with prior experience in student-led literature discussions assisted peers familiar with teacher-led discussions in basal reading programs. Tapes, observations, and writings of students indicated that students quickly adopted leadership roles, interacted, and helped one another conduct…

Reports the results of a reanalysis of data from a major longitudinal database on school effectiveness. Finds the existence of differential effectiveness for prior measures of mathematics and reading achievement. Also finds marked differences in schools' rank positions and discusses the implications for the assessment of Britain's National…

Criticizes recent revisions in the National Curriculum for English in Great Britain. The author deplores that the new National Curriculum has not seized the opportunity of recognizing Britain as a multilingual, multicultural society and provides practical strategies for implementing the new English orders for both quality and equality. (GR)

A study of classroom interaction in French foreign language reading classes in Brazil is reported. Based on analysis of 40 hours of classroom discourse, it is concluded that student responses represent internalization of teacher and student roles, mutual relations, previous foreign language background, and conceptions of reading in the foreign…

Reviews research on reading and writing development, comparing the whole-language approach with the Montessori approach for teaching reading and writing at the elementary school level. Also discusses techniques to teach students how to write poetry and short fiction, stressing the importance of both freedom and structure in evolving reading and…