This paper discusses the origin and philosophy of the whole language movement, focusing on the learning theory, language attitudes, language acquisition, and reading processes employed by the approach. The roles of teachers, learners, parents, and student evaluation in the whole language approach are then examined. The paper then addresses how…

The whole language approach to reading instruction emphasizes a literature-based program rather than the traditional skills-related approach. The principles and practices of whole language have engendered both educational and political debate for the following reasons: whole language challenges the traditional educational power arrangement, giving…

This book consists of 18 essays that discuss teaching methods and resource material promoting productive school experiences for American Indian students. The first section of the book introduces the notion of empowerment of Indian students through multicultural education, foundations of Indian education, the history of Indian education, tribal and…

This collection of 13 papers addresses the education of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) children at the preschool and elementary school level, focusing on the role of the school, curriculum, and community in second language acquisition. The papers are: (1) "Language, Culture, and Schooling" (Denise McKeon); (2) "Knowledge, Power, and Identity…

Noting that renaming common folk practices as "emergent literacy" practices legitimizes these unacknowledged ways of learning to read and write, this book highlights the importance of out-of-school literacy experiences and the value of real literature and real writing. It stresses a reciprocal relationship between basic research on the…

The 43 conference papers in this yearbook cover such diverse topics in the field of reading as the analysis of children's literacy responses, the study of aesthetic literacy, and the investigation of phonemic awareness. The yearbook includes both data-driven studies and conceptual explorations of diverse literacy learners. The yearbook opens with…

This curriculum guide was developed for a 150-week worker-centered, holistic course in language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) for workers at the Juno Lighting plant in Chicago, many of whom are immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, and other Latin American countries. The curriculum is a guide to lesson planning and topic…

Written for parents, this book discusses current practice in preschools, elementary schools, and secondary schools. The first section, entitled "Learning," defines and discusses learning, memory, learning styles, study skills, and homework. The second section, entitled "What Goes on in Schools?," discusses inclusion,…

A family literacy demonstration project was conducted to offer family literacy classes in three public schools in Philadelphia. Instruction was offered for 2.5 hours per day 4 days per week for parents of kindergartners and first graders from January to June and for parents and children together in July. The project was designed to help adults…

This study examined the implementation of the seven critical attributes of the primary school curriculum mandated by the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) in a single multi-age primary classroom. The study used a case-study approach over a 16-month period. The seven attributes observed are: (1) developmentally appropriate practices; (2)…

Nongraded education is the practice of teaching children of different ages and ability levels together in the same classroom, without dividing them or the curriculum into steps labeled by "grade" designations. Children progress along the continuum from easier to more difficult material at their own, varying rates of speed. Interest in nongraded…

This practicum was designed to improve the congruency of resources, activities, and assessment strategies in intermediate-level language arts programs with a holistic process-oriented perspective on literacy development. Taking place in a large public elementary school in Vancouver, Canada, the practicum's goals were: (1) to implement…

This collection of papers discusses various theoretical, clinical, and assessment issues in reading and writing delays and disorders. Topics include the following: integrating different theoretical approaches (cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, constructivism) into clinical approaches to reading and writing difficulties; difficulties of…

Recognizing that parents have a great range of options in choosing and creating an education for their child, this book is designed to help parents make an informed, conscious choice about their child's schooling. Chapters in the first part of the guide provide an overview of American education, the mainstream public sector and alternative…

Children develop language-related abilities simultaneously from infancy onward, and the conditions that promote first language learning are the same conditions that promote total literacy development: a social context involving immersion, approximation, opportunity to practice, feedback, and modeling. Intended for teachers, reading specialists,…