Discusses the use of both formal and informal reading assessment to help teachers tailor reading instruction to students' specific needs. Includes criteria for determining the effectiveness of reading assessment. (PKP)

Tests the effect of using written metacognitive awareness guidance (MCAG) as a tool for activating and engaging learners'"Habits of Mind" while processing authentic reading assessment tasks taken from Israeli kits of assessment tasks. Confirms that applying metacognitive awareness guidance to reading assessment tasks makes a difference in the…

Presents a brief discussion of critical topics addressed in fantasy literature that can help build a foundation for bringing this well-loved genre into the classroom in a meaningful way. Considers fantasy literature's mythic structures and heroic cycles, and religious commentary. Discusses history in fantasy, gender roles, and social commentary of…

Discusses the influence of book club experiences on teachers. Argues that teachers simply must have a ready awareness of their own reading-as-thinking processes in order to effectively share and demonstrate them to kids. Suggests the implementation of teacher book clubs. (SG)

Notes the author's third-grade students had three years of rich experiences with the world of storytelling and realizes that they were ready (whether she was or not) to study William Shakespeare and learn from this timeless master and teller of stories. Notes how she incorporated teaching William Shakespeare into her third grade classroom. (SG)

Studies classroom practices to identify those that were most useful for improving students' reading ability. Describes the teacher practices observed in the classrooms, particularly those that are derived from the research of the last four decades. Examines the relationship between teachers' practices and students' growth in reading achievement.…

Shows some similarities and differences between readability formulas and leveling procedures and reports some current large-scale uses of readability formulas. Presents a dictionary definition of readability and leveling, and a history and background of readability and leveling. Discusses what goes into determining readability and leveling scores.…

Presents annotations of 12 children's books and 2 books on tape--books that encourage readers to be reflective on self, life, society, and art and literature. (SG)

Proposes that illiteracy due to social reasons is a good source of information to investigate the adaptation mechanisms to the formal knowledge of written language. Compares illiterate subjects and their controls in several experimental conditions. Concludes that schooling, and in particular the knowledge of orthography, introduces in the brain…

Discusses empirical evidence supporting the idea that both skilled reading and learning to read capitalize on underlying phonological representations. Explains that phonological dyslexia is related to some anomaly in speech perception capabilities, making it difficult to both develop efficient conscious segmentation abilities and…

Details an intervention study which investigated whether children with Down syndrome (DS) would benefit from an "analytic" approach to reading instruction, which encompassed explicit training in phonological awareness. Concludes that DS children benefited from this type of instruction, even though their auditory-verbal memory is poor.…

Examines how 10 kindergarten through fourth-grade teachers shared poems and stories with their students. Notes that readings of poems were characterized by expressive reading style, multiple readings in one sitting, and children's active participation. Concludes poetry has the potential to draw children's attention to the resources of literate…

Discusses the concept of movement first in the broader sense and then seeks an alternative viewpoint on analyzing movement in illustrated children's literature. Emphasizes movement in relation to the characters, inspired by ideas from modern dance. Draws examples from the illustrations and texts of the Moomin books by Finish artist and author Tove…

Argues for the realignment of Shakespeare with the popular forms which influence the social world of young children. Explores what teachers and performers need to learn and unlearn when telling Shakespeare's stories in the company of children. Considers the grounds of creativity for teachers when abandoning prescription in teaching Shakespeare.…

Studies the reading comprehension of high school students who read three expository passages of increasing difficulty. Finds that the two groups use the same type and number of strategies on the easy passage, but as the passage difficulty increased, good comprehenders use more types of strategies and use strategies more often than the poor…