This longitudinal study examined predictors of second-grade reading outcomes in kindergarten children (N=604). Findings indicated that five kindergarten variables uniquely predicted reading outcomes in second grade: (1) letter identification, (2) sentence imitation, (3) phonological awareness, (4) rapid naming, and (5) mother's education.…

Argues that judicial deference to a university's denial of tenure based on an allegedly unclear accent may be unjust. Discusses: (1) the usual tenure process; (2) Title VII action and academic deference; (3) evidence that inherent bias against accents in the classroom hurts non-white instructors; and (4) proposed action for courts and…

Describes how passage of Proposition 227, California's initiative restricting bilingual education, has influenced teacher preparation to authorize specialized instruction for limited English proficient students. The response to Proposition 227 by San Diego State University's College of Education is explored to illustrate the reaffirmation of a…

Provides a rationale for online instructional practice in teacher education and in foreign language learning and summarizes the online teaching and learning strategies applied by the partners in a telecommunications partnership between two universities-one in the United States and one in Taiwan. (AEF)

This article reviews the evidence for balanced literacy instruction in the elementary years. The case is made that the balanced instructional model is particularly appropriate and beneficial for students who have initial difficulties in learning to read and write. Key features of successful reading instruction programs are described. (Contains…

This article discusses how critical literacy can offer gifted students a way to research great leaders and their actions in times of crisis, enabling them to project the type of leadership that is called for in today's world. Reading activities, writing activities, and oral language activities are described. (Contains 1 reference.) (CR)

Suggests the authentic audience found on the Internet has a profound effect on the quality of student writing in all grades, and that the key to successful technology projects is integrating them into the curriculum so that computers are a means, not an end. Offers ideas for classroom activities and projects using stand-alone computers, and using…

Describes a school-based curriculum project involving 12 student teachers studying geography and modern foreign languages on a one-year Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) course in the University of Durham (England) in which they visited Olomouc (Czech Republic) for two weeks to plan and prepare teaching materials and carry out their…

This article summarizes the National Research Council's conclusions concerning key developmental milestones in the various domains relevant to reading success, including phonological awareness, letter identification, the alphabetic principle, automatic word recognition, and comprehension strategies. Beneficial opportunities for preschoolers and…

This article presents a framework to guide special education services for English language learners. Policies and procedures that can minimize disproportionate representation are suggested, as are recommendations for appropriate referral, assessment, and instructional practices. Multidisciplinary teams are discussed and placement options for…

This article urges educators and administrators to collaborate closely with families of students with disabilities from diverse linguistic, racial, and cultural backgrounds and participate in training activities that stress best practices for facilitating the participation of the family. The role of the Individualized Education Program in forging…

Weekly reading and writing workshops held with Caribbean middle school girls led to an understanding that concepts such as cultural relevance and gender sensitivity were inadequate in light of the complex, multidimensional identities they were required to negotiate on a daily basis. The paper argues for pedagogies that involve Caribbean girls in…

Describes an interdisciplinary project that incorporated language arts, social studies, instructional technology, and science where middle school students were involved in oral history, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, architectural research, the science of dendrochronology, and the creation of an archival school Web site. (CMK)

Introduces a collection of articles that address the following issues: authority and morality in classroom discourse; becoming experienced in teaching and learning; first-year teaching success; teachers' roles in preservice education; student teacher cohorts; theories of language learning and teaching; and metaphors as blueprints of thinking about…

Explores benefits and limitations of online teaching and learning, online teaching strategies, and cultural aspects associated with cross-cultural collaboration based on email correspondence between American preservice teachers and Taiwanese students. American students practiced online instruction as tutors for English as a second language, and…