Studies the philosophy of Paul Feyerabend with regard to the analysis of raw data and the role of prior adherence to theory in such analyses. Uses Feyerabend's philosophy to analyze the space shuttle Challenger disaster in terms of social constructionism. (HB)

Examines the author's daughter's spontaneous responses to information books, especially those responses that occurred outside book-sharing sessions. Investigates response episodes as: casual conversations, a reevaluation of facts, reflections of complex thinking, transactions between life and literature, and portraits of personal inquiry. (SR)

Provides an explicit critique of existing poetry teaching practices which illustrates how adolescents, particularly boys, develop antipathy to this genre. Describes the theory and practice of "responsive teaching." Reports selected findings from a three-year action research investigation examining how keen readers of pre-twentieth-century poetry…

Explores the responses of the author's 31 pre-service teachers to a controversial picture book. Begins by searching for a short text geared to elementary age children and suited for read-alouds. Notes that she believes that the majority of pre-service teachers at this stage in the program are still very impressionable and must be given multiple…

Examines a subset of oral responses young children (grades K-2) make during interactive read-alouds of picture storybooks. Describes this set of responses and does some theoretical speculation about how educators might understand them. Describes how knowledge of the various types of these responses could be put into practical use in classrooms.…

The narrative concepts of the implied author and implied reader elucidate how business texts represent writers and readers. It is important, though, to distinguish carefully between writers' "implications" and readers' "inferences." Instructors should contrast implied versus inferred writers and readers, provide multiple ways to comprehend these…

A. D. Mitchell's work on the phosphorus(I) reduction of the halogens and of mercury(II) and copper(II) chlorides is examined. A review of some salient characteristics of the Mitchell mechanism is presented, together with a discussion on how a student might benefit from a case study of the phosphorus(I) reduction of iodine or the similarly behaving…

This study involved fourth grade children as co-researchers of their engaged, aesthetic reading experience. As members of the "Readers as Researchers Club," they documented their engagement with text--how they create, enter, and sustain the story world. The children, who self-identified as avid readers, explored the activities central to their…

A study examined the retelling performance of the novice compared with that of the expert and the effect of retelling practice on comprehension for both proficient and less proficient readers. Thirty-six fourth graders (20 proficient and 16 less proficient readers) were randomly assigned to one of four story sessions. Across the four sessions all…

It is proposed that treatment of translation as a discipline can provide translators with techniques and perspectives on their work. Spanish and Dutch versions of a novel illustrate how seemingly innocent and subtle shifts in perspective can affect the most important and distinguishing qualities of a text. (MSE)

This paper examines the influence of Japanese comic illustrations on children's books in countries in East Asia. It has become increasingly obvious that recent children's books in countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, as well as China and Malaysia/Indonesia contain illustrations with some features of the Japanese comic illustrations. This…

Examines how conceptions of what it means to read and discuss literature shaped peer-led discussions in the classroom. Explores the relationship between social and interpretive expectations in the classroom and the positions students took during literature discussions. Shows that students worked to create solidarity. Complicates the role that…

Reports on a study of what children actually bring to the act of reading picture books in terms of their expectations, their reading or life experience, or their understanding of artistic styles. (TB)

Shares the responses of children to an initial exploration of books with gay and lesbian characters. Intends to learn from this experience in order to plan future curriculum engagements that encourage conversation around such a critical and controversial issue, and to use differences to take some sort of action against discrimination. (SG)

Analyzes Gabriel Garcia Marquez'"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" while calling attention to aspects of a critical approach that is universal in its grasp. Proposes that it is the reader who has to allow the text to engage the reader's critical participation. (PM)