Discusses an approach for teaching literature using a dynamic, holistic approach to the novel. Uses the "story mind" theory, which is built on the unifying quality of metaphor, and exposes students to analyses of character, overall story, and propelling elements on a variety of level. (Contains 10 references.) (CAK)

Delineates the use of unconventional methods in two novel courses, calling for pedagogy change in college classrooms. The instructor asked students to take on more responsibility and exercise decision-making power about the shape and content of the course. Student responses to this more inclusive pedagogy were mixed. (CAK)

Discusses an instructor's efforts to have students investigate the historical and cultural contexts in which novels are set. Requires students to use primary sources, such as newspapers, to see what ulight this information nsheds on their understanding of the novel they are reading. (CAK)

Proposes a new approach for teaching imaginative literature. Argues for a shifting of emphasis from critical afterthoughts to preparatory remarks for the purpose of strengthening students' initial responses to an assigned work. The type of preparation will depend on the work and the capabilities of the students. (CAK)

Describes an approach to teaching short stories that uses an expanded meaning of diversity. This course incorporates not only a variety of gender, racial, and ethnic perspectives, but also a number of differing examples of the short story cycle, an integrated collection that features discrete, autonomous stories that add up to a composite whole.…

There is an acknowledged difficulty in demonstrating that the standard of school exams remains constant over the years. It is a source of debate every summer when exam results come out. There is some evidence that foreign language exams, and French in particular, have declined in standard since the 1980s, but empirical measures to demonstrate this…

Dorsey shares her practice of using a written play to connect the knowledge students bring to the classroom with Howard Gardner's concept of multiple intelligences.

Discourse context may affect comprehension of a word in a text by facilitating lexical access or by facilitating integration of the target concept with the preceding text. In two experiments, we used eye tracking measures to examine contextual influence on the integration of role fillers in scripted narratives. In both experiments, context had an…

This article reports first-year achievement outcomes of a national randomized evaluation of Success for All, a comprehensive reading reform model. Forty-one schools were recruited for the study and were randomly assigned to implement Success for All or control methods. No statistically significant differences between experimental and control…

This study examined whether children's reading rate, comprehension, and recall are affected by computer presentation of text. Participants were 60 grade five students, who each read two expository texts, one in a traditional print format and the other from a computer monitor, which used a common scrolling text interface. After reading each text,…

This research examined how students at the Open University of Israel studied from video recordings of lectures. At the semester's end, seven history students were interviewed in order to trace their experiences, learning strategies and preferences. It was found that (1) reading comprehension strategies are inappropriate for viewing comprehension,…

A literacy support teacher leads a district-wide initiative to organize content-area teachers in an effort to help their students become better readers by offering instruction and practice in five reading strategies across the curriculum. At the end of the 10-week program, teachers felt that students' comprehension had improved, and many felt some…

This study investigates the effectiveness of an instructional program designed to teach 2nd graders how to comprehend compare-contrast expository text. Along with introducing new content (animal classification), the program emphasizes text structure via clue words, a sequence of questions, and a graphic organizer, and via the close analysis of…

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of two versions of Computer-Based Feedback within a prevocational system of modularized education in The Netherlands. The implementation and integration of Computer-Based Feedback (CBF) in Installation Technology modules in all schools (n = 60) in The Netherlands is new. The main idea is that…

In this paper, we discuss the Functional Adult Literacy Program (FALP) that we have developed in Turkey. FALP, which is taught by volunteer instructors, focuses on individuals who have had very little or no schooling. The two evaluation studies of the first three cohorts of the program indicate that FALP is significantly more effective than the…