This article explores the relationships between vocabulary knowledge and text readability. It discusses how procedures used by readability formulas to assess the vocabulary factor can over- or underestimate text difficulty by counting syllables rather than assessing what the reader knows about the words in a text. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Describes an approach to college developmental reading using topics chosen by students. Students develop skills including researching, reading for main ideas, outlining, summarizing, and critical thinking in gathering information and gaining understanding of the topic. Suggests that when studying a topic of their choosing, students maintain more…

Offers a 69-item list of children's books published in 1996 or 1997 that are suitable for kindergarten and first-grade children in helping them develop phonemic awareness. Offers a letter to parents that describes some specific activities they can do at home that highlight phonemic awareness. Offers a parents' phonemic awareness observation…

Used class discussions to explore the influence of gender on beginning readers in a Grade 1 classroom. Found that although children's mothers read the most often, both parents did read to their children. Familiarity, genre, and challenge influenced children's reading selections. Also found gender differences in book preferences and reading…

Reviews books on Canadian Indian history for use by history teachers. Argues that this selection of books will help stimulate student interest in history by making the curriculum more relevant and by using seldom-presented materials. Provides ideas for further sources of information about Canadian Indian history. (DSK)

Presents an annotated bibliography of bibliographies, guides, reference works, and journal articles supporting literature-based instruction. Includes annotated bibliographies concerning storytelling, multicultural education, and teaching methods. (MJP)

Narrative counseling is based on the premise that stories, rather than hard-nosed realities, shape our lives. By changing the stories that negatively label and define students, they are helped to open up new avenues and opportunities. In this second edition of their best-selling book, the authors present even more case studies, guidance, and…

The current accountability movement has focused on academic achievement but has circumvented issues of motivation and authentic reading materials. Many educators have challenged this direction of the reading curriculum, particularly criticizing the narrowing of the curriculum, the continued focus of teaching to the tests, the overemphasis on…

This study at a midwestern, private, liberal arts college compared undergraduate student reactions in an educational psychology course between students whose reading assignments were in a conventional textbook vs. those of students whose reading assignments made use of primary sources, such as original research or case studies. At the end of each…

Outlining how teachers can best support a literate community yet still meet the needs of individual readers, this book explains how to create a balanced literacy program for grades K-3 based on guided reading and supported by reading aloud, shared reading, interactive writing, and other approaches. The book also presents guidelines for observation…

Noting that peer tutoring benefits tutors and tutees of all age and ability levels, this paper presents annotations of 32 items from the ERIC database on peer tutoring. Annotations in the paper are organized into four sections--overview, elementary students, middle school students, and special needs students. The paper includes annotations of ERIC…

In the form of a teaching case, this paper recounts the difficulties of an English teacher whose reading list was challenged as being racist. In introductory materials, the paper explains that teaching cases help develop students' abilities to spot issues and frame problems in an ambiguous, complex teaching situation. The paper presents the case…

A study was conducted to determine why students were rejecting books recommended by their teachers for independent reading assignments. Approximately 80 eighth-grade students were given a reading interest survey/questionnaire to establish student reading interests. Students were then given a list of 15 independent reading selections compiled by…

Intended primarily for classroom teachers, this book discusses the genre of nonfiction, the link between nonfiction and elementary curriculum, and specific ways to integrate nonfiction into the elementary classroom. The book's 16 essays and their authors are as follows: (1) "Fact or Fiction?" (Russell Freedman); (2) "The Evolution…

Designed for use by volunteers in the program, this handbook describes the "Rockin' Readers" program, in which senior-citizen volunteers are matched with specifically targeted at-risk children in Alachua County, Florida, who tested below their peer group in language development and reading readiness skills. The handbook notes that each…