This study examined effects of a summer reading instruction program as part of an 8-week summer day camp experience for 61 disadvantaged first grade children. Two hours of direct explicit reading instruction daily were supplemented with a literacy-rich camping experience. Post-tests indicated the experimental group not only obviated usual summer…

Notes that student learning declines or remains stagnant during the summer months and that the magnitude of change differs by socioeconomic status. Explains a summer reading program called Continued Connections which used a converted recreational vehicle as a mobile classroom. Concludes that this program helped students increase their reading…

Notes the challenge of teaching with multiple perspectives. Explains that studying a poem with two voices shows students how to consider multiple perspectives. Concludes that looking at different perspectives on a topic not only widens students' views, but also deepens their understanding. (PM)

Describes how many students expect reading to be about answering literal-level questions, taking true-false tests, and figuring out what a teacher wants to know. Explains the Six Traits of Reading from Northwest Regional Educational Labs: decoding; building context; comprehending; interpreting; synthesizing; and evaluating. Notes that these sorts…

Discusses an English for science and technology course at Simon Bolivar University in Venezuela in which students were allowed to choose reading activities and alternative forms of assessment were implemented. Results of a questionnaire used to evaluate the course are provided. (Author/VWL)

This case study addressed the meanings two preservice teachers ascribed to four expert strategies used in reciprocal teaching (questioning, summarizing, clarifying, and predicting) and four learning principles upon which reciprocal teaching is built (cognitive apprenticeship, scaffolding, zone of proximal development, and proleptic teaching).…

Analyzes self-reports and site visitor reports of 300 of the nationally recognized "Blue Ribbon" elementary schools representing 1985-86, 1987-88, 1989-90, and 1991-92 recognition years. Finds that more schools were using literature-based instruction, grouping flexibly, using computer-assisted instruction, providing in-class remedial…

Suggests ways to help college English-as-a-Second-Language learners become readers and in turn develop language comprehension. These include bringing a variety of books into the classroom, allowing students to choose their own books, providing blocks of time for independent reading and group discussion, and freeing the environment of…

Focuses on the best methods and activities for promoting competence in the reading of a foreign language, especially French. The article maintains that French language teaching has a pioneer role in advancing second-language reading strategies and suggests activities that can supplement instruction in this field. (Author/CK)

A survey about instructional strategies was completed by 183 elementary teachers and teachers of students with learning disabilities. Results indicated that the most important factor influencing respondents' philosophical decisions on teaching reading and writing was their teacher training program emphasis. Most respondents believed that a…

Finds that these teachers claimed commitments to several practices: (1) extensive reading at the heart of their reading instruction; (2) diverse instructional practices; (3) teaching of both word-level and higher-order skills and processes; (4) development of student background knowledge; (5) student writing; (6) extensive use of diverse…

Based on positive findings of previous research with English-as-a-Foreign-Language learners, an integrated reading and writing course for first year Arab EFL students was designed at Beit Berl College, a 4-year teacher training college in Israel.Describes the course objectives, reading and writing requirements, in-class activities, and instructor…

Focuses on whether music teachers should teach reading to their students. Addresses the effects of reading instruction in the music classroom, how music teachers do not want to be reading teachers, and reading skills that are already being taught in the music classroom. Offers ideas on what reading skills can be taught. (CMK)

Describes a staff development effort at a small, predominantly Native American elementary school. Staff developers attempted to improve teachers' ability work on reading comprehension, but their development methods were unsuccessful. They realized that they had to match their work with teachers with the school culture and to listen to the teachers…

Focuses on the impact of a family reading project on parents and library staff in an English borough and the partnerships it fostered between organizations involved in the initiative. Considers the project's impact on parents, public libraries and schools. Notes that one of the most important benefits of the partnership courses was pleasure…