How can we prepare and encourage new teachers to take on the challenge of changing traditional views of literacy education? Teacher educator William Kist shares a first-year teacher's story of incorporating new literacies within an eighth-grade alternative classroom.

Relates the story of a classroom experience that serves to show what is meant by both primary and secondary acts of reading. Argues that teaching the poem at the point of utterance makes it clear that the poem is not simply an occasion for a set of questions to which students must supply answers. (JD)

Discusses the great role that nonfiction plays in the leisure reading habits of today's teenagers and suggests that teachers should provide recommendations of this material. Describes several works of contemporary nonfiction appropriate for the young adult audience. (JD)

Describes an effective but new twist on the use of young adult books as bridges to the classics. Considers how "Frankenstein" is a novel written for today. Aims for his students to see that literature can be a way to discuss important issues. Discusses how to bridge Walter Dean Myers' novel "Monster" to…

Recognizes the importance of rethinking how the author's students read particular texts rather than which texts they read. Explores the concept of reading for multiple meanings rather than attempting to nail down "the meaning." Describes how she selected specific ideologies represented in "The Scarlet Letter" to use as various…

Considers ways of implementing collaborative learning techniques into the teaching of William Shakespeare in the high school English curriculum. Argues for allowing students to predict the action after viewing only one act of a play. Shows how group work enhanced students' thinking processes. (HB)

Offers five responses to Pamela Carroll's article, "'i cant read i wont read': Will's Moment of Success" in the same issue of this journal. (PRA)

Offers a classroom lab approach for motivating students to read and for helping them to achieve higher levels of reading skill and enjoyment. (PRA)

Describes a ninth grade class's field trip to a bookstore. (PRA)

Presents resources for secondary school reading teachers. Looks in depth at two books: "Into Focus: Understanding and Creating Middle School Readers," and "Mosaic of Thought: Teaching Reading Comprehension in a Reader's Workshop." Discusses three online resources about teaching reading and selecting materials (READPRO,…

In the Trenton Central High School (TCHS) 67 percent of the students are African American and 27 percent of the students are Latino. "Reading for understanding" was the main resource in the classroom practice and in the professional development sessions.

Julie Lause has designed a curriculum that transformed the students and the school. Reading workshops increase the reading speed, comprehension and motivation of the students.

The areas of reading comprehension theory that provide insights for writers are examined and the way in which a basic knowledge of reading theory provides a backdrop for explicating certain conventions and responding to certain problem area in student writing are explored. With the examples of successful classroom activities, it is shown how a…

Reading instruction must become the concern of all teachers in a school. (JH)