Describes two initiatives of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to help children become life-long readers. The AFT/Chrysler Learning Connection Reading Grants program awards grants to schools for family involvement reading programs. The booklet "Helping Your Child Learn to Read" contains activities parents can use. Some booklet…

Discusses tensions and dilemmas that arise in the implementation of Vygotskian psychology. Analyzes the development of special educational needs and practice in the former Soviet Union and compares this with similar changes in England and Wales. Uses interviews in Russian schools and Moscow State University to illustrate the analysis. (CFR)

Describes the investigation of South African English-as-a-Second-Language high school students perceptions of classroom activities in terms of their feelings toward the activities as well as their value in current and future learning. Using questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observations, results found that the learners' perceptions often…

Presents a collection of computer software programs designed to spark learning enthusiasm at every grade level and across the curriculum. They include Reader Rabbit's Learn to Read, Spelling Power, Mind Twister Math, Community Construction Kit, Breaking the Code, Encarta Africana 2000, Virtual Serengeti, Operation: Frog (Deluxe), and My First…

Elementary teachers Fay and Whaley share anecdotes of how carefully listening to English language learners read--and discussing with them their errors and confusions--helps teachers better analyze such students' true language and reading abilities. They discuss the importance of spending time talking individually with each child learning to read…

In this article, the authors describe their efforts to improve the performance of their middle school students on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). As middle level educators, they knew that in addition to addressing the curriculum, they also had to address the psychological needs of their students. To administer a standardized…

A variety of materials and forms used in the development of vocational English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs for industry employees are provided, with little narrative information. They include: a list of criteria for teacher selection; forms for recording contacts with companies; a list of information sources and content areas and several…

This 26th annual report summarizes recent activities in Ohio that were provided by Chapter 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Chapter 1 authorizes a federally funded compensatory program for several groups of educationally disadvantaged children. Initial discussion explains the Chapter 1 services provided by Ohio's public school…

With funds from the International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, Project SYNERGY was launched in January 1990 to address the problem of students entering colleges underprepared in basic skills and to make use of the tremendous potential for significant remediation through computers. Twenty-two institutions in the United States and Canada,…

This document contains the final performance report, evaluation, and curriculum from a program that provided basic literacy instruction for employees of Chahta Enterprises in Mississippi. The final report describes development of curriculum materials that matched the reading and math tasks of production and quality control jobs; reading and math…

An overview of the salient issues in adult English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) literacy is presented as reported in the literature on adult education and applied linguistics. Emphasis is on programs that have implemented promising practices and effective approaches to help ESL students develop their literacy skills. Characteristics of effective…

This paper describes a pilot project designed to facilitate coordination among Chapter 1, Pennsylvania Special Education, and Pennsylvania Regular Education services, with the goal of providing a more integrated support system for students. The project, named C.H.A.P. (for Chapter 1 Special Education Helping At-risk Programs), served 282 educators…

This paper presents several methods of reading instruction that teachers can use with young readers, particularly learners of English as a Second Language (ESL), to help them cope with potential negative effects of background knowledge. Insufficient or inaccurate background knowledge may cause readers to make inferences or interpretations that are…

This 25th annual report summarizes recent activities in Ohio that were provided by means of Chapter 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Information presented concerns: (1) statistics for fiscal 1990; (2) participation trends; (3) instructional impact; (4) expenditure and staffing patterns; (5) parent involvement; and (6) 5-year…

This study describes efforts by the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) to promote literacy among six language groups of northern Ghana during the years 1972-1979. The report is organized into three parts. Part I provides general background for an understanding and evaluation of what took place. It first describes the national and local setting…