Discusses the problems that exist when organizational policies are written on a reading level which is inappropriate for the intended employees. Management must assess and adjust readability levels of policies and procedures, write policies in a clear manner, provide background, define terms, improve supervisor development, and use trainers more…

Claims that writing systems that constitute a species of graphic systems, such as pictures and charts, are distinctive in that they bear a direct relation to speech. Argues that writing serves as a model for various properties of speech including sentences, words, and phonemes. Concludes that literacy contributes to conceptual structure of…

Proposes an end to the "Great Debate" in reading instruction between the proponents of data-driven approaches and proponents of concept-driven approaches by offering two major principles of reading instruction. Explores characteristics of each approach and the danger of overemphasizing either aspect of reading. (MG)

Early reading instruction is important for all children, but especially for the disadvantaged, because the decision not to expose them to reading at an early age may result in an unrecoverable loss of intellectual potential. Reading readiness as an approach may exile children from literacy permanently because it is an abstract and alien process…

Most Americans oppose establishing a set of universally required texts--not because creating a core curriculum is inherently undemocratic, but because it's an un-American idea. The Chall curve shows graphically what is at stake in teaching literate culture to everyone. (MLW)

Slavin's 1987 review of research of between- and within-class ability grouping on achievement of elementary students is discussed, and its assumptions examined. It is suggested that recent theory and research make the Slavin review most useful from the perspective of historical analysis. (SLD)

Reviews recent research on metacognition and presents some implications for its use in the classroom. (FL)

Offers a proposal for an integrated reading and writing curriculum that emphasizes essay and other informational writing. (HOD)

Discusses a developmental approach to children's library services in which the communication element is essential to successful programing and reader's advisory, both of which provide opportunities for using communication techniques that are meaningful in the pattern of a child's intellectual development. The stages of development are outlined.…

Concludes that the Spanish Oral Reading Test can be a useful tool for teachers who need to estimate the reading levels of immigrant children. (FL)

Notes that research has demonstrated the importance of parent-child interactions in developing literacy. Claims that parent literacy programs are effective in the children's literacy development. Proposes that research on the value of extensive interventions can suggest ways to improve parents' interactions with their children during the literacy…

Follows the reading and writing development of a young boy from first through third grade. Shares how, through storytelling, he defined a sense of himself that retained a strong connection to his primary-years personality while reaching out confidently toward the world of upper elementary classrooms that he would now be facing. (MG)

Summarizes research on reading preferences of boys and girls, the relationship of these preferences to reading ability, the availability of materials for boys, and the notion of a female versus a male morality. The implications of these factors for building a well-balanced children's collection are also considered. (nine references) (MES)

The typical college student is unable to deeply comprehend what he or she reads. Most students have few, if any, intellectual tools that would enable them to read deeply, and then apply what they have read. The "Critical Thinking and the Art of Close Reading" series (which includes this column and the past three columns) focuses on some of the…

The medical model of reading diagnosis, which presumes something is wrong with the reader that can be diagnosed and remediated, needs to be reexamined. The ability to use writing as a communication tool, for example, must be considered as part of diagnosis if the purpose is to determine how literate someone is. Diagnostic tasks must also reflect…