Children's literature plays an essential role in the literacy development of children. This department column focuses on the teaching and use of children's literature and provides educators with information about a wide range of books across multiple genres that are representative of the diverse world in which we live. A strong emphasis is placed…

Background: Obtaining employment is among the most important ambitions of people with intellectual disability. Progress towards comprehensive inclusive employment is hampered by numerous barriers. Limited research is available on these barriers and strategies to overcome them. Method: A mixed method approach in a sample of 30 HR-managers was used…

Although the literature on picture books is extensive, very little work focuses on how they are integrated into teacher education curricula. We contend that effective use of these resources requires an understanding of the relationship between preservice teachers' conceptions of children and of picture books. Second-year South African…

The purpose of this study was to examine whether there exists a relationship between selection practices of school districts (i.e., whether the principal was hired from within the district as an internal hire or hired from outside the district as an external hire) and changes in minimal proficiency in school math and reading achievement. More…

In the present study, an attempt was made to investigate the role of personality and personal values in the curriculum choice. Four hundred students (200 males and 200 females) ranging in age between 18- and 25-years-old participated in the study. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-- Revised (EPQ-R) and The Aspiration Index (AI) were used to…

Leveled reading, in which students select "just right" books based on their assessed reading level, has become a significant part of elementary reading instruction. However, libraries remain places where students can select books to read outside their reading levels. Based on observations of 1st-grade students, the author describes how…

Creating a professional portfolio is a requirement for most pre-service teachers in Alberta. Little is known, however, about principals' use of applicant portfolios in hiring. In response, researchers conducted an online survey of principals throughout the province. Findings indicate a preference for traditional job application items (e.g., a…

Growing a nature kindergarten that can flourish takes a community, careful planning, and sustained support. In 2011, the Sooke School District in British Columbia, Canada undertook the project of creating a nature kindergarten when outdoor programs of this kind did not exist in the Canadian public school system. Inspired by the well-established…

As of March 2018, there were 6.6 million job vacancies in the US, signaling a shortage of skilled workers. Furthermore, a 2017 McKinsey survey of young people and employers reported that 40 percent of employers said a lack of skills was the principal reason for entry-level job vacancies, which demonstrates that the current education and training…

Popular culture texts are widely desired by many elementary students, and yet some teachers do not value the use of popular culture texts in the classroom (Lambirth, 2003; Marsh 2006). The purpose of this research was to explore two, Title I elementary teachers' perceptions of the use of popular culture texts during independent reading. Data…

This qualitative descriptive study explored what human resource leaders understood to be high-impact practices in the acquisition, development, and retention of quality teaching talent for nonurban public school districts in Texas. This study answered three research questions that included what human resource leaders identify as high-impact…

Concerns about a bias against the hiring of Canadian and permanent resident academics arose in the late 1960s. With a wave of hiring unleashed by the expansion of the university and college system over the previous decade, evidence was mounting that Canadian candidates were routinely being rejected in favour of international applicants,…

This issue of "Research Library Issues" ("RLI") presents three articles by Stanley Wilder in which he explores a series of trends shaping the professional population of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions. Wilder's articles serve as a powerful illumination of the demographic shifts taking place in the…

Primary teachers often struggle to find high quality literature for use with their first-grade students. Therefore, a list of award winning books was evaluated for characteristics that lend themselves to teaching reading comprehension strategies and literary elements. The Golden Kite Award, an annual award which provides a grant to the winning…

This study examines trends across recent Jane Addams Children's Book Award (JACBA) winners, with a focus on selection criteria and portrayals of social justice issues. The JACBA is administered by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's educational affiliate, the Jane Addams Peace Association. Established in 1953, the award serves…