Discusses how teachers make important choices in discussion groups as they support children's dialogue about social inequities. Notes that the kind of safety that developed did not mean that the talk was always pleasant and free of tension, but members could expect a balancing of support for responses with a questioning approach. (SG)

Attempts to strengthen the connection between theory and practice in the inquiry discussion. Presents three curricular perspectives prevalent today and situates inquiry curriculum among these perspectives. Addresses several critiques of inquiry curriculum. Provides scenarios and identifies the beliefs underlying these opposing perspectives in an…

Notes that people's voices telling their own stories is the only true connection to the past. Describes how in their teachers' writing group, they listen to each others' stories. Considers how they offer support to each other when lessons fall flat and celebrate when they share the children's wonderful products. (SG)

Finds that teachers trained in Reading Recovery (RR) modified their regular classroom teaching to use RR-type instructional practices and taught students the strategies typically taught during RR tutoring sessions. Concludes that further research should be done to understand how aspects of this beginning reading intervention program affect the…

Examines the differential effects of sound boxes and sound sort phonological awareness instructional techniques on preschoolers' phonological awareness performance. Finds that children in the sound box group significantly outperformed children in the sound sort group on isolating medial sounds and segmenting phonemes. Reveals that preschool…

Presents a 50-year-old article by Arthur Gates who was a prominent reading educator of the last century. Notes that he had a profound effect on many aspects of classroom literacy instruction. Speaks to all teachers about what is really important in the teaching of reading. Considers what is involved and what is essential in teaching reading.…

Sets up a dialogue on the topic of secondary reading interventions. Hopes to stimulate a conversation among diverse researchers and practitioners whose work would enable them to represent the best interests of a wide range of secondary students. Concludes with a redefining of secondary reading intervention. (SG)

Presents a "conversation" with Penny Colman (adapted from her remarks at a panel discussion at a recent convention). Considers that nonfiction is dominated by male writers, especially for young adults and adults, and by true stories that feature boys and men. Discusses her exploration of the world of nonfiction by women. (SG)

Asks students reading "The Kilimanjaro Device" to focus on how it illustrates a most central idea about the human condition: how to best live in time so that our lives are happy, fulfilled and right. Presents background for "The Kilimanjaro Device," discusses Bradbury's rescue mission, and the principle of good timing.…

Suggest that investigating the lives of other people expands students' knowledge about themselves, others, and the world while developing and refining literacy skills. Proposes that biography study addresses the language arts standards. Explains two activities that employ biography study, called "biography expense accounts" and "link-up." (PM)

Focuses on the impact of phonological awareness on reading comprehension. Finds that phonological factors play an independent role in the processing of text. Yields further evidence to previous research showing that phonological awareness is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for reading comprehension. Indicates that there is no clear…

Describes efforts by principal of the Willow Elementary School in the Charter Oak Unified School District (California) to provide students with technology-enhanced access to information and learning resources to improve reading and mathematics skills. Includes list of the Web addresses for the skills software used at the school. (PKP)

Describes positive results of taking part in a National Council of Teachers of English Reading Initiative study group. Proposes teachers need the long term study, experimentation, and conversation the study group provides. Lists ideas that will help support teachers as inquirers. (PM)

Considers a reading assessment procedure that offers teachers a way of using miscue analysis in the course of a busy classroom day. Presents "Over the Shoulder Miscue Analysis" as a foundation for reflection, the opportunity to revisit and make meaning of a literacy event. Explores how Over the Shoulder has helped teachers as researchers…

RISE (Reading Intervention Sans Expense) is a one-on-one reading intervention that involves maximizing human resources, not expending dollars. Tutors are high school students enrolled in a community service learning course who are trained in guided reading. Research suggests that RISE is an effective and efficient intervention that impacts all of…