Examines how teacher-student relationships are portrayed in children's and young adult literature. Investigates over 50 books, finding five categories of teacher portrayals: relational, non-relational, ethical rebel, unethical rebel, and transitional. (SR)

Investigates messages readers are offered in young adult series fiction regarding female identity and roles. Finds blatant messages concerning females' relationships to themselves, to other females, and to males. Describes various classroom strategies to help readers work through texts and become conscious of the messages in the texts and what…

Proposes that teachers, supervisors, and administrators (in their quest to provide quality literature-based literacy instruction within a challenging political context) form a partnership as learners to study themselves, their students, and the political agenda to create a unified response to concerns of parents and legislators (including a…

Examines the author's daughter's spontaneous responses to information books, especially those responses that occurred outside book-sharing sessions. Investigates response episodes as: casual conversations, a reevaluation of facts, reflections of complex thinking, transactions between life and literature, and portraits of personal inquiry. (SR)

Argues that a zealous focus by reading researchers on differences creates the impression of utter chaos in the field, and serves students, teachers, and the public poorly. Argues that researchers can contribute to educational policy (rather than forever nullifying one another) by focusing on the considerable consensus about literacy. (SR)

Examines the English reading scores of a group of primary aged children in South Texas being educated in a dual language program (Spanish and English). Finds that balanced language development (equal competence in all areas of the two languages) does not have a negative influence on reading comprehension in English. Finds that the more balanced…

Illustrates explicit code instruction within the context of a literature-based reading program in one first-grade classroom. Examines the classroom context, the teacher's views on code instruction as a strategy, one day in the life of the classroom, and implications and reflections. (SR)

Offers an overview of "people first language," language which aims to create a positive view of people with disabilities in place of insensitive portrayals that stereotype and discriminate. Presents results of a readability analysis of such language, and suggests ways such terminology can be integrated into middle and high schools. (SR)

Discusses how all children must learn to work to overcome a difficulty, take initiative, and make links with what they already know. Illustrates these actions with instructional interactions in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms. Notes how teachers can establish a pattern of expectations. Outlines ways teachers can foster active learning, and…

Investigates fifth-grade children's expectations for stories in relation to knowledge of literature/reading ability. Shows "high readers" included more high-level story propositions and structurally important story information than did low readers; students who included structurally important story information scored higher on knowledge…

Compares effects of storytelling versus story reading on comprehension and vocabulary development of 32 British primary children. States one group listened to stories in storytelling style, the other group listened to stories read by a student teacher. Finds children who witnessed storytelling scored higher on comprehension/vocabulary measures…

Describes the PMOSE/IKIRSCH document readability formula, which provides a measure of document complexity (looking at structure and density) of a wide array of different document types (including lists, schedules, tables, graphs, charts, indexes, time lines, maps, calendars, and forms). Discusses implications of the formula in terms of document…

Seeks to determine whether it is possible to teach children who are poor readers four text comprehension strategies (clarifying, questioning, summarizing, and predicting) in listening contexts. Demonstrates that it is possible to teach the strategies to poor readers; that they can improve their reading comprehension; and that listening…

Notes evidence that backward readers might have difficulties with spelling morphemes. Compares a group of backward readers' spellings with control groups matched on chronological age and reading level. Finds that backward reads are behind their age group in correct spelling but no worse than groups at the same reading level. (DSK)

Investigates the effects on reading comprehension of students attending an elementary school where the Four-Blocks framework is utilized (School A) and students attending an elementary school where a basal reader approach is utilized (School B). Compares the ability of four classes of second-grade students to give an oral retelling and answer…