A competency-based undergraduate reading methods course and a competency-based language arts methods course have been offered at Rhode Island College as part of the preservice training of prospective elementary teachers. In addition to these courses, the Right to Read staff has developed two student teaching centers. This two-year final report…

One way of countering illiteracy is to teach children to read before they enter elementary school, e.g., in nursery school or at home. The "right age" for learning to read is discussed; positive results of a project in France that taught nursery school children to read and write are examined. (RM)

Project Read at the Longview (Washington) Public Library conducted a program to maintain and expand the Family Literacy Center to provide a monitored tutoring site and family outreach program for a minimum of 75 adult learners and 40 tutors. Two projects were involved: (1) Project READ focused on adult learners with a one-on-one tutoring approach;…

The "Read, Imagine, Decide, and Do" (RIDD) reading strategy was developed based on observations of student behaviors and reading problems while completing academic tasks. The four steps of the RIDD strategy are described. To determine its effectiveness, four elementary teachers in a rural northeastern Nebraska school taught the RIDD strategy. Each…

One of the most difficult problems of modern school practice is how to prevent overcrowding the curriculum, breaking up the school day into small fragments of time devoted to disconnected tasks, and dissipating the energies of the children to such an extent that the process of education is hindered rather than helped by the attempts to enrich and…

Describes a pilot project designed to foster quality literacy projects by fifth-grade students; establish a positive working relationship between fifth-grade teachers and the Chapter 1 reading teachers; and provide an enriching atmosphere for the use of computers. Notes that the project uses portfolios and a process model of writing. Notes staff…

Scanners linked to computers with speech synthesizers are used by the visually impaired. A study of 13 sighted children needing additional help in reading determined that such systems provide benefit for children with "global" reading delay, are more effective improving reading than spelling, and are of little value for children with…

Maintains that the rich and interesting subject matter of social studies makes it a natural complement to literacy programs. Briefly describes instructional strategies for literacy and discusses how these can be used in conjunction with the "History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools." (MJP)

Examines characteristics of successful book-reading programs for low-income African-American children and parents to encourage literacy. The paper focuses on the Parents as Partners in Reading program which encouraged and guided parents in specific, appropriate ways to assist in their children's development and learning. (SM)

Describes the development of an interactive compact disc on CD-ROM XA that was designed to help adults learn to read. The application of technology to learning is discussed, differences in learner control in computer-based systems are considered, virtual writing is described, and assessment activities available on the disc are explained. (five…

Americans rely on public schools to educate and prepare almost 50 million students to become productive members of society. Yet many public schools, particularly those in large cities, face significant challenges: over-crowded classrooms, shortages of highly-qualified teachers, low student achievement, achievement gaps, access to preschool, and…

This article summarizes the effects of NCLB on school districts based on four years of evaluations conducted by the Center on Education Policy as part of the most comprehensive and continuous overview being undertaken of that policy.

The approach taken by two English-as-a-Second-Language teachers at the American University in Cairo (Egypt) in intensive courses for university-bound students is described. The approach is characterized by continuous communication between teachers, with the objective of providing constant reinforcement of those skills. Focus is on how two teachers…

The evolution of a 2-week summer honors program in French for high school students, inaugurated in 1980 and conducted on a university campus, is chronicled. The program was designed to offer enriching experiences in language review, new skill building, French culture, understanding of French phonology, and conversation on topics of interest to…

This document describes the development and content of five videocassettes used to depict diverse approaches to kindergarten education to preservice and current teachers and teacher educators. Developed under a faculty development grant from the University of South Dakota, the tapes range between 15 and 25 minutes in duration. The first tape,…