This article presents a review of the author's long-term research in urban classrooms. The authors explore six illustrated information books created by children as culminating activities of integrated science-literacy units, Forest and Matter, that they developed, implemented, and studied in several 1st-3rd grade classrooms in Chicago Public…

This article focuses on the evolution of the classroom literacy block as a learning space where teachers and students renegotiated activities for independent vocabulary and word work within a high-stakes reform environment. When a second grade classroom teacher and literacy support specialist decided to co-teach, they invited all students in the…

In this article, the author shares the reflections of second graders at PS 11, an elementary school in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, on their identities as readers and writers through a photo essay. It is through these two mediums that they are coming to know themselves as learners and as human beings. One example of student comments is, Billy…

A set of field notes taken in second- and third-grade classrooms is presented as part of a statewide study of early literacy instruction. The coping strategies of two students as they attempt to overcome the boredom of the literacy practices at their school are discussed.