Teachers know that establishing a robust independent reading program takes more than giving kids a little quiet time after lunch. But how do they set up a program that will maximize their students' gains? Teachers have to know their students' reading levels inside and out, help them find just-right books, and continue to guide them during…

Argues that, if teachers want to see real writing improvement with their students, they must become advocates of free voluntary reading. Describes improvements the author has seen in his students, and lists some suggested titles for a classroom library collection. (SR)

Through basic literacy experiences like discussing, reading, writing, viewing, and listening, students become aware of themselves as readers, increase reading abilities, and demonstrate an overall understanding of "just right" books in an environment very different from the usual activity-filled elementary classroom. Amazingly, because of basic…

Annotates 108 titles chosen by children as the best of 1984. (FL)

Lists 115 children's books for (1) all ages, (2) beginning independent reading, (3) younger readers, (4) middle grades, and (5) older readers. Titles were selected from a choice of 4,000 and voted on by children in five test areas. (JC)

Reading can become a central focus in family learning. Families should develop reading plans to encourage children to read. Families should develop their own home resource centers of books and other learning materials. (BJV)

A six-phase management effectiveness strategy that can be employed by secondary classroom reading teachers to facilitate and improve the learning of students whose reading skill needs are severely deficient, is outlined in this document. The first phase, the inventory, requires teachers to list and group all reading materials available. In phase…

Argues for inclusion of more written input in first-year programs, and describes an experimental reading collection of children's books accompanied by guided tasks. The description includes results of a post-year survey that explored student perceptions of the cultural and linguistic benefits of working with children's books in a reading lab.…