A practicum implemented an 8-week reading program designed to correct a long vowel skill deficit (CVVC and CVCe) in 11 third grade students of an inner city, predominantly Hispanic elementary school. The main strategy was inductive instruction wherein the skill is introduced so that students discover what they need to learn, thereby increasing…

This study investigated the effects of story mapping on reading comprehension. Subjects, 20 second-grade students of below-average reading achievement, were presented over a 10-week period with activities in story mapping utilizing a variety of story map frames. The Metropolitan Achievement Test was administered as a pre- and posttest. Results…

A study surveyed the use of computer hardware and software in reading and language arts programs of public and private elementary schools in Florida. Respondents, 173 public and private schools from urban, suburban, and rural areas of Florida (out of an initial group of 333), furnished information on who was providing computer instruction, where…

"Education Matters" is the monthly newsletter of the Association of American Educators (AAE), an organization dedicated to advancing the American teaching profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection. This issue of the newsletter includes: (1) Leading Students to New Heights: Dr. Bill…

This document was prepared to provide guidance to "Reading First" coaches and teachers regarding alternative lesson structures for providing small group, differentiated instruction to students in grades K-3 within "Reading First" schools in Florida. The motivation for the development of this document stemmed from specific…

For this practicum three methods for improving sight vocabulary for first graders were developed and implemented. Goals were to increase vocabulary recognition, improve students' attitudes toward reading, and raise critical thinking levels using parental support. The program, which involved 10 students, took place in 3 phases allowing 4 weeks per…

In Florida, a group of paraprofessionals worked with students struggling to read at grade level. The students' gains show that the intensive attention of these professionals to small groups of students can make a significant difference. This article presents a study about the effectiveness of paraprofessionals' and teachers' instruction for…

A practicum designed and implemented a program to address the related problems of negative attitudes toward reading, low reading abiility, and poor student working vocabulary. Intervention strategies and critical thinking activities were used to raise students'"Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) scores and to improve students' attitudes toward…

A practicum addressed the cognitive and affective needs of underachieving fifth grade students in a suburban school in southwest Florida. Twelve fifth grade students (the target group) were paired with same age tutors who provided supplemental reading instruction four times a week over a 12-week period. They also participated in weekly…

This manual provides teachers with abstracts of instructional materials intended for use with mildly handicapped students in language arts classes. The materials are correlated with the intended outcomes of each course as specified in the state curriculum guidelines for grades 9-12. The abstracts are organized by subject matter and level: applied…

Each month, "Curriculum Review" offers teachers mutual support, the sharing of ideas, and words of encouragement to help them face challenges in the classroom. The March 2005 issue of "Curriculum Review" contains the following articles: (1) "We Hear from Readers"; (2) "Correction"; (3) "What They're…

For five years running, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has tracked states' teacher policies, preparing a detailed and thorough compendium of teacher policy in the United States on topics related to teacher preparation, licensure, evaluation, career advancement, tenure, compensation, pensions and dismissal. The 2011 State Teacher…

What reading consultants do varies considerably from person to person as there is variability in the role each reading consultant perceives as his or her responsibility. To assist reading consultants in prioritizing their roles to meet their constituents' needs, 113 elementary teachers enrolled in graduate reading classes at the University of…

The purpose of this study was to provide descriptive information about the Pinellas County (Florida) Reading System (PCRS) as adapted by individual schools for selected pupils in the seventh and eighth grades. The results of this study indicate that low achieving pupils have made fluctuating but significant gains beyond normal expectations in…