In Reading Apprenticeships, teachers serve as "master readers" of texts, engaging in collaborative inquiry with students. Reading is demystified through metacognitive conversations that draw on readers' self-knowledge. Academically underperforming students gained an average of 2 years' reading growth in 1 academic year using the…

This annotated bibliography provides brief descriptions of 13 selected readings and resources concerned with teaching reading to young children with learning disabilities. Included are journal articles, research reports, and teaching guides. (DB)

Prepares two tables to illustrate how it is helpful to place worries about much smaller sums in the context of Miami University's overall academic budget; One table summarizes the academic budgets for every department during the 1997-98 academic year and a second contains the income-expense ratios for all Oxford departments over a five-year…

Selects and evaluates a sampling of great children's literature to ascertain what values and character messages were being communicated to readers. Indicates that Newbery books are indeed "a compelling vision of the goodness of goodness itself." Notes that character trait analysis and discussion can be a fruitful forum for increased…

Probes into some issues arising from the use of transactional theory as a guide for literacy and literature education. Formulates these issues in terms of theoretical distinctions between five pairs of concepts: basic and enhanced literacy; literal comprehension and literary understanding; literary texts and informational texts; aesthetic and…

Describes how the book "Mosaic of Thought: Teaching Comprehension in a Reader's Workshop" by Ellin Oliver Keene and Susan Zimmerman requires teachers to examine their reading strategies. Examines essential strategies for students to become engaged and independent readers. Considers strategies such as: metacognition; activating prior knowledge;…

Discusses the short introductions by literary scholars that more often than not precede Shakespeare's plays. Considers the importance and lack of importance that readers put on these introductions. Describes the use and creation, over time, of these introductions to many different plays by Shakespeare. (SG)

Authors take issue with an article by Elaine Garan, "Beyond the Smoke and Mirrors: A Critique of the National Reading Panel Report on Phonics," that appeared in the March 2001 issue of "Phi Delta Kappan" wherein she criticized the report's findings on the effectiveness of phonics instruction in helping children to read. (PKP)

Author makes a point-by-point rebuttal to Ehri and Stahl's criticism of her critical analysis of the National Reading Panel report on the effectiveness of phonics instruction in helping children to read. (PKP)

Demonstrates how engaging, effective oral fluency practice can be part of daily reading instruction and how such instruction and practice can help to develop independence and understanding in silent reading. Describes how the approach includes explicit teacher modeling and teacher-guided time for group and independent oral and silent reading…

Presents a current analysis of vowel regularity done with slightly different parameters. Compares the findings of this analysis to Clymer's classic 1963 study and other studies in order to demonstrate some of the issues that affect interpretation of this kind of analysis. Gives some specific suggestions about the teaching of vowels. (SG)

This article suggests using songs and chants as a source of predictable text in developing students' reading skills. It offers new songs to familiar tunes to aid in content specific instruction. Benefits of using songs and chants in classroom instruction include repeated exposure to words, the versatility songs provide, and the pleasure of…

Describes a year-long, high school reading and writing literacy course developed by the National Center on Education and the Economy, designed to be delivered in a 90-minute, double-block period 5 days a week. Identifies several things principals can do to successfully implement the course. (PKP)

Literacy scholars appear to have reached consensus that a balanced approach to reading instruction holds the greatest promise for improving reading achievement among students. Following the lead of the National Reading Panel (2000), curricular manifestations of a balanced reading program include instructional components in phonics or word…

Repeated reading has gained popularity as a technique for helping students achieve reading fluency. It is widely implemented and can be used for students with and without disabilities. Repeated reading has several components that make it more efficient. This article shares those components and provides a framework for setting up and using repeated…