Examines the influence of culture, language, and social experiences on reading. Proposes ways of helping ESL children develop literacy skills. (JK)

This case study examines the process of learning to read and write in a first-grade boy for whom difficulties in literacy acquisition were predicted from a battery of tests commonly used to identify learning disabilities (LD). Data included: (1) test scores from the school psychologist, speech therapist, audiologist, and from standardized school…

This classroom research project focused on 10 fifth-grade students, all of whom had been labelled low-average achievers by their school. Students were encouraged to read, write, draw, talk, tell stories, and play freely. Five case studies emerged from the interactions. It became apparent that the children were shaping literature to their…