Born of a high school English teacher's frustration with his students' attitudes about books, this book presents, verbatim, nearly 50 letters sent to the teacher in response to his letter to the editor of the "San Francisco Chronicle" asking readers to write about their experiences with books and the role that books and literature played in their…

Rural offspring of the back-to-the-land people of the late 1960s appear to have substituted reading for television viewing as a primary pastime. (LH)

Examines the role of literature in the middle school curriculum and how this role affects young adolescents' reading habits. Argues that literature's role lies in the aesthetic experience of literature as an end in itself. Considers the necessity of ensuring that students understand this personal payoff of reading. (JPB)

These six briefs summarize what researchers and practitioners have learned on several education-related subjects. They can be used by educators and community organizations in newsletters, handbooks, and school calendars. In "Foreign Languages in America? Gimme a Break!" a case is made for the importance of foreign language instruction for students…

A compilation of lectures and presentations from Nordic and international conferences, symposia, and seminars, as well as informal contributions to debates, this booklet was published originally as a 1987 greeting by the Danish National Association of Reading Teachers. Topics covered in an often humorous presentation include reading, reading…

Provides selected quotations about reading from great writers of the past (MKM)

Outlines the importance of principals' focusing their school's curriculum on the development of reading skills through ideas such as (a) faculty inservice and orientation programs, (b) organization of faculty reading planning teams, (c) allocation of resources, (d) supportive classroom visits, and (e) informal evaluation systems to ascertain…

There are many "truths" concerning reading psychology and pedagogy that teachers accept without questioning and that play an important role in current reading instruction. However, both science and education are deeply affected by the tenor of their times, and present day answers should be regarded only as tentative propositions that may be…