Presents excerpts from "Becoming a Nation of Readers," a recent publication that synthesizes current knowledge regarding the process of learning to read. (GC)

This article discusses the continuing controversy of whole language versus phonics. It discusses both systems--how to plug the holes in them, and how to combine the two approaches, making for stronger instructional tools. The article also explains the analytic model of teaching reading. The article offers a series of recommendations for teachers,…

Phonics instruction alone cannot fully develop students' ability to comprehend a text or story. Reading instruction should emphasize students interaction with print, compensating for lower level skills with higher level skills, and gaining meaning and knowledge throughout the process. Too often, teachers give minimal attention to the development…

Discusses two philosophies of reading instruction--the measurably stated objective philosophy and the idea-centered reading curriculum philosophy. Suggests that, whatever philosophy is used to teach reading, teachers need to guide each student to achieve optimally in reading and that individual differences in reading achievement need adequate…

Learning content and ideas while learning to read should be integrated, not separate, elements. Individualized reading emphasizes that students engage in holistic reading instruction. First, a student selects a library book from among several genres. After completing the reading of the book, the student has a conference with the classroom teacher.…

Presently, reading is much discussed by senators, representatives, and state legislatures--the debate is on the following issues in reading instruction: (1) having all students in public school achieve at grade level as a reading minimum; (2) accountability of teachers for student achievement; (3) teachers having high achievement expectations from…

This paper explores what a reading teacher might do to guide students to achieve and be successful in reading. The paper first points out that there are selected programs of reading instruction which are individualized for optimal student success, and then discusses some of these programs, such as: individualized reading; the experience chart;…

No trend in education has been more exalted than "whole language," which has a following of teachers, researchers, and specialists who are almost fanatical in their observance of this teaching method. The debate is between two types of direct instruction: the "atomistic" approach encourages teachers to break down reading into…

This paper urges primary grade teachers to be certain that pupils are off to a good start in reading. A fundamental goal of beginning reading instruction should be to move each child toward the understanding that readers reconstruct texts by using multiple strategies to interpret the language encoded in print and, at the same time, to make it…

This interview with Dr. Michael Pressley discusses the hurdles that struggling readers confront when comprehending text, teaching methods that can be used for improving reading comprehension, the role of special educators and reading specialists in the education of struggling readers, and the need for teachers to teach reading comprehension…

Advocates of high standards and expectations usually believe that gaps in reading achievement can be eliminated with good teaching, but slow readers need a specially designed reading curriculum. The teacher first needs to use an informal reading inventory to determine the student's reading level. Functioning generally on a higher level than…

Presents concerns about children's growth as oral and written language users and how disagreements over teaching strategies can affect this growth. (SRT)

Focuses on seven errors made by teachers of remedial reading in elementary, middle, and junior high school programs. Suggests corrections and acknowledges teachers who treat reading as a skill that can be learned and refined through reading. (JK)

This collection of 29 succinct information articles discusses issues relating to language arts, including whole language, phonics, student evaluation, spelling, and censorship. Some of the authors contributing to the collection are Ken Goodman, Yetta Goodman, Jerome Harste, Patrick Shannon, and Constance Weaver. Titles of articles are:…