This article presents an overview of a conceptual framework designed to help reading professionals better understand what their students are facing as they learn to read in alphabetic writing systems. The US National Reading Panel (NRP) recommended five instructional components for improving reading outcomes but presented these instructional…

Effective teachers are continuously striving to improve their instruction. Reading Recovery teachers have detailed and specific literacy training and expertise that can be of great value to classroom teachers, especially in the area of guided reading instruction. This article explores the ways in which key Reading Recovery strategies can be…

When Debbie Miller, educational consultant and author of "Reading with Meaning" (2013) and "Teaching with Intention" (2008) visited a Title I elementary school in Texas, the instructional reading coach was challenged in her thinking about best practices for independent reading. Ms. Miller's visit included modeling interactive…

Today's media specialist can and should become an integral part of the school's efforts to improve student reading and test scores. A media specialist can have an influence on student reading in many ways. One should always remember that the ultimate goal of media specialists is to develop in their students a love of reading as a pleasurable…

The Texas Literacy Initiative (TLI) was first implemented in Austin Independent School District during the 2012-2013 school. This report summarizes Spring 2014 survey responses from teachers at TLI campuses.

Designed to help preservice and inservice teachers use assessments to identify problems and employ appropriate strategies to help their students become better readers, this text includes 12 case studies that detail children's literacy struggles. The cases are embedded within a framework of research-based instructional interventions related to best…

Students are challenged to pass mandated tests in grades three through eight and the exit test on the secondary school level in order to be promoted to the next higher grade level or to receive a high school diploma. Failure is certainly a negative experience. It behooves reading teachers to assist learners to attach meaning to what is being…

Teacher knowledge and instructional expertise have been found in correlational and pre- and post-test studies to be related to student reading achievement. This article summarizes data presented in this special issue and additional research to address four questions: (a) What do expert reading teachers know? (b) Why do teachers need to acquire…

Presents a model of literacy based on five habits of effective reading teachers. Explains the rationale and theory that supports: (1) the importance of choice; (2) teaching for continuous progress; (3) curriculum integration; (4) individual conferencing, and (5) child-centered, child-directed activities. (NH)

This report describes the birth of the Eve Malmquist Institute for Reading (EMIR) and its first year of operation. The report is in two parts. The first part presents the addresses given at the opening ceremony where the speakers gave their views on different aspects of reading and reading development, such as reading for pleasure, reading…

Describes the Arkansas Comprehensive School Reform Model, which focuses on staff development and a collaborative support system for teaching reading in the elementary grades. Reports that preliminary results indicate an average increase of at least 20% on standardized testing scores for students in model classrooms. (NB)

Describes a six-trait reading model called the TRAITS of an Effective Reader that provides a reading assessment framework for classrooms, schools, and school districts. Explains trait-based reading assessment and discusses the six traits that make up this model: conventions, comprehension, context, interpretations, synthesis, and evaluation. (NB)

For the first year in "what seems like eons," California's school districts will see an influx of new money, a large portion of it earmarked for developing competency in reading for students in kindergarten through grade 3. The expanded funding for reading results from a consensus among policy makers that the achievement of early…

Suggests that prior to teaching reading skills all staff need to agree on a set of labels and determine how they will teach those skills in the classroom. Offers specific strategies for music and art teachers that can be used by any teacher. (NB)

Assesses a program for the lowest achieving children in a classroom that enables them to function and make progress with their peers near the middle or upper levels of their class. Children are given 30 minutes of individualized training daily, with text reading and writing being the central elements. (NKA)