Describes 13 practical ideas for classroom teaching at the elementary level, including writing classmates' biographies, keeping a class diary, and improving emergent readers' vocabulary with word cards. (MM)

Describes an eighth grade reading teacher's program which involved students visiting elderly adults in nursing homes. Argues that the experience provided the context for students to deal with responsibility in a realistic setting, and that the positive circumstances encouraged them to share their experiences in oral and written form. (RS)

To explain the concept of literacy, the Integrative Systems Model of Literacy is developed, illustrating how understanding literacy has direct applications to both instruction and research. The model's utility in reconciling opposing concepts of literacy is shown, presenting practical suggestions for literacy instruction which minimize social,…

Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition was implemented with elementary school regular, remedial, and special education students as an approach for organizing reading and language arts instruction. Compared to a control school, the experimental school found significant effects on reading vocabulary, total reading, and language scores but…

Advocates content-based reading as an effective way to facilitate foreign students' rapidly achieving reading proficiency in English. This article presents data on student achievement, feedback, and retention from a study of two variations of content-based English-as-a-Second-Language courses to support the author's position. (16 references)…

Examines the use of hypertext documents by middle school students. The study focused on gathering and analyzing information on students' use of various hypertext-based reading materials. Analysis of the data led to the identification of six hypertext reading patterns: skimming, checking, reading, responding, studying, and reviewing. (Contains 12…

Three experiments compared the effects of interspersal drill and practice using 30% new items/70% review items with 100% new items, with a total of 17 students (ages 9 to 17) having behavior disorders, emotional handicaps, learning disabilities, or mild mental retardation. The ratios were compared for instruction in spelling, multiplication facts,…

This article describes a theoretical model of reading disability that integrates research findings in cognitive psychology, reading, and education. The model identifies four patterns of reading disability: (1) nonalphabetic readers, (2) compensatory readers, (3) nonautomatic readers, and (4) readers delayed in the acquisition of word recognition…

Four adolescents with moderate mental disabilities were taught by peers to read key words from labels of cooking products using constant time delay. Students mastered the reading of target key words in a relatively short amount of time with minimal errors, acquired some incidental learning of cooking definitions, and were able to generalize the…

Discusses reading and writing activities in a foreign language. Implications of emergent literacy research for foreign-language instruction focus on when to initiate these activities, what sorts of literacy materials to use, what kinds of tasks to utilize and how to direct novice foreign-language learners. (46 references) (CK)

Reports on the results from a comprehensive review of instructional practices in reading and writing elementary classrooms in Chelsea (Massachusetts) followed by a review of the corrective actions taken via the Boston University/Chelsea Public Schools Partnership and their outcomes. Children's classroom performance in reading and writing is…

This article describes the inclusion model implemented at two elementary schools in Minnesota and the educational experiences of a second grader and a sixth grader. One school's locally developed model focused on an alternative phonetic reading program for students at risk or with disabilities; the other school focused on team teaching. (DB)

Six instructional design principles are recommended to enable students with learning disabilities to comprehend and compose expository materials. The instructional principles are illustrated using the compare/contrast text structure. Charts provide examples and clarification of the strategies. (SW)

R-WISE (Reading and Writing in a Supportive Environment), a computerized package for teaching critical literacy, is described, focusing on its use in developing reading comprehension. The program eases demands on short-term memory, highlights strategically important aspects of comprehending text, guides internalization and self-initiation of…

This paper reviews graphophonic factors underlying the development of reading competence and their relationship to functional aspects of reading. The paper suggests that attention be paid to aspects of visual form, such as the use of typographic and linguistic cues, to improve the operational effectiveness and motivational appeal of materials for…