It is essential for middle school leaders to develop and promote school-wide literacy models, organizational structures that have a significant impact on the learning environment for all students in their building. However, school-wide literacy models can be difficult to implement and sustain over time. Drawing from an Office of Special Education…

Innovative, well-designed school library programs can be critical resources for helping students meet high standards of college and career readiness. In "School Libraries and Student Learning", Rebecca J. Morris shows how school leaders can make the most of their school libraries to support ambitious student learning. She offers…

The law requires that juvenile justice facilities must provide education to all school-age students, and these facilities often do so despite challenges that would baffle most high school administrators and teachers. This "Adolescent Literacy Guide" provides guidance to both administrators and teachers who want to increase opportunities…

Written for the busy practitioner by an experienced professional development consultant, writer, and speaker, "Literacy for Real" is a hands-on guide to meaningful reading across the content areas of math, science, and social studies in grades 6-12. It presents key information that addresses all types of 21st century literacy--visual, digital, and…

This brief enhances recommendations and policy strategies from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) publication "Reading to Achieve: A Governor's Guide to Adolescent Literacy". It reflects lessons from recent research and best practices from states selected to receive NGA Center support to develop statewide…

Like educators around the country, staff in juvenile justice facilities recognize the serious academic challenges that many of their students face because of low levels of literacy achievement. This "Adolescent Literacy Guide" provides guidance to administrators and teachers who want to increase opportunities for students in juvenile…

The paper presents strategies to help regular class teachers help their mainstreamed students read and learn better. The seven teaching ideas are offered for use in "whole class" settings and are designed to benefit both mainstreamed and regular students. Further, the strategies can be used by subject matter instructors who cannot become…

Although students may read every word of an assignment, a lack of ability to make meaningful connections between words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs can make it impossible for them to interpret and apply what they read. Strategies are given for increasing reading comprehension in social studies instruction. (JN)

In this Inquiry Study, participants will explore the process of reading expository texts--the strategies participant/teachers use to make sense of them, and how expository texts are similar to and different from narrative and other types of texts. Participants will then examine aspects of expository texts, such as text structures, vocabulary, and…

Learning disabled students face problems with content area textbooks in the areas of vocabulary, syntax, concepts, and appearance. LD students should be taught how to use their books effectively as well as how to study. Formats are suggested for guided reading in the content area. (CL)

Argues that reading specialists' lack of success in persuading content area teachers to help their students read and study texts in social studies, science, and mathematics is a result of reading specialists' lack of careful thought about text structures. Discusses the text structures of textbooks in these content areas. (RS)

The paper describes ways in which mainstreamed special education students can engage in individual assignments to master course content. The activities include developing a word parts dictionary which addresses prefixes, roots, and suffixes of the subject area; highlighting the textbook to sort out main ideas, vocabulary words, and supporting…

Provides an overview of techniques an instructional designer can use to examine printed subject matter materials when conceptualizing unfamiliar content. Highlights include a discussion of conceptualizing versus learning, interactions between designers and subject experts, and interacting with print materials based on content area reading…

Examines the application of reading process and writing process research in content area instruction. Provides a chart of characteristics and purposes for various writing formats, including outlining, notetaking, captions, news reports, scripts, and books of facts. (MM)

Offers a checklist for classroom teachers who need a quick and efficient method for reviewing and evaluating nonfiction tradebooks for teaching content area subjects. (SR)