Like many states, Massachusetts has intensified efforts in recent years to improve literacy outcomes, particularly in the early grades. Initiatives have focused on providing guidance and resources for implementing changes in curriculum, instruction, and additional screening and support for struggling students. In September 2022, the Board of…

Preparation for high-stakes testing, while unavoidable, may become meaningful, these authors argue. The article illustrates the case of a third-grade classroom in a metropolitan public school, where test preparation was approached as genre study. In addition to examining the specific unit of study, the authors describe the efforts of the classroom…

As increasing numbers of states move to end social promotion of 3rd graders, some are also including interventions to help students learn to read. Oklahoma is one of several states that recently adopted new reading policies that--with limited exceptions--call for 3rd graders to be held back if they flunk a state standardized test. Supporters say…

Response to Intervention (RTI) was encoded into the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, and is being adopted on a wide scale as an alternative approach to identification of students with learning disabilities. For RTI to be an effective mechanism for addressing disproportionate representation of culturally and…

Poetry should be an integral part of children's learning in elementary school. This article explains the classroom structures and routines through which third-grade students in an inner-city school became familiar with poetic language and learned to appreciate the artistry of poetry. Most of the students were struggling readers. Reading poetry…

This report evaluated the Child Centered Reading Program which was designed to develop and improve reading ability, behavioral attitudes, and self image of the 2000 inner city elementary students participating in the program. The program was administered by a coordinator, four reading teachers and two educational assistants. The activities…

This report evaluates a program designed to increase the reading ability of disadvantaged elementary school students in New York City. Three hundred twenty-five students, grades three through six, from three Harlem elementary schools were enrolled in the program on the basis of being at least a year below their expected reading levels. The…

This report evaluated a teacher education program designed to improve the quality of instruction for low income students in New York City. A major goal of the program was to increase student reading and English fluency skills. Teachers for the program were trained on college campuses. Each participating school designed its training program to suit…