Describes a nonfiction genre study in a first-grade class in which reading and writing minilessons focused on nonfiction, and the children were required to read nonfiction and write a piece in that genre. Notes that, by the end of the nonfiction study, the group exhibited confidence and comfort with nonfiction. (SR)

Reviews research on the effectiveness of story grammar in promoting the comprehension of narrative text in students with learning disabilities and at-risk students. Offers instructional recommendations for successful implementation of this strategy. (RS)

Offers an account of the changes one teacher observed in her reading/writing workshop in a middle school classroom when she and her students took the time to focus on ways of talking to one another, building their speaking and listening skills. (SR)

Discusses the lack of qualified teachers in South Africa to encourage reading in a second language among school children and describes a series of posters and a lectern stand developed by the Shell Education Service that provide teachers with supportive aids that increase their confidence. (LRW)

Describes the experience of one English teacher who utilized teacher research to restructure and revitalize her teaching. Describes the dissatisfaction and disillusionment of her students, attitudes that prompted the changes. Narrates the particular events and techniques used by the teacher, especially with regard to her concept of cooperative…

Describes the concept of collaborative action research. Contributes to the current inquiry regarding the use of portfolios, with specific attention to their use in third-grade settings. Highlights the advantages of collaborative research among educators. (HB)

Offers the perspective of a university professor who taught a third-grade class while on a year-long leave. Discusses how the teacher immersed students in print, provided students with regular demonstrations of how print is used, and offered frequent opportunities for students to read. Offers insights on diversity in the classroom and inclusive…

Describes the "Global Method" of Celestin Freinet, a French educator whose teaching methods (similar to language experience, writing process approach, and whole language) are used by teachers in Europe. Offers excerpts of Freinet's ideas on democratic pedagogy, having children write their own books, teaching writing, moral civic…

Illustrates how social interaction with high quality literature can foster the literacy process of responding to literature with the student's own voice. Demonstrates ways that particular instructional processes can foster critical literacy processes as students share their interpretations of quality literature. (MG)

Describes the Weber State University/Standard Examiner family literacy project which addresses low level literacy skills in adults and preliteracy skills in children. Children and parents are separated for certain learning experiences then reunited for "Parent and Child Together" time. Other segments of the program are described. (SM)

Results of 6 experiments with 109 Australian preschool children favor training in phoneme identity over segmentation as a component of initial reading instruction because it is easier to implement and its relation to alphabetic insight is stronger. Implications for the initial reading curriculum are discussed. (SLD)

Focuses on the issues of skills in reading instruction in New Zealand. Feels that instruction can maintain a reciprocal and mutually supportive relationship between teaching word-level strategies and comprehension strategies. (MG)

Describes the process of listening within the boundaries of learning. Focuses on whole-language methods in reading that promote whole listening and can help students improve their listening as well as reading skills. (MG)

Asserts that picture books are appropriate supplementary materials for use with secondary students. Provides a rationale for incorporating them into the secondary school curriculum. Describes the selection of appropriate picture books for use with older students and provides sample teaching strategies in selected subject areas (English/reading,…

This study compared intellectually superior students (ages 8-9) identified as accelerated readers (n=11) or nonreaders (n=8) at the age of 4 and provided similar types of elementary school basal reading instruction. Accelerated readers scored higher than nonreaders on measures of word attack and dictation, with no differences on word recognition…