Presents a review of the resources, conclusions, and limitations of the data on trends in reading ability in America between 1840 and 1990. Shows that, contrary to popular belief, today's students read better than yesterday's. (SR)

Describes student-led discussions as an effective approach that accommodates diverse student populations and a wider variety of texts. Offers the views of two quite different students about its effectiveness, and explores how such discussions naturally give rise to a variety of voices as students cite text and quote one another. (SR)

Suggests ways principals can work cooperatively with teachers to support independent reading as an important and integral part of the language arts program. (SR)

Offers an overview of research findings on peer and cross-age tutoring, including what elements of reading are amenable to tutoring, the effects of the age and ability of tutors, gender pairing, and tutor training. (SR)

Describes literacy education in Flanders, Belgium, for adolescents and adults. Discusses education policy, courses, materials, and students and teachers. (SR)

Describes an elective class in which high school students work in a primary grade classroom helping students with learning problems. (RB)

Suggests that teachers develop techniques to teach students strategies used by good comprehenders: paraphrasing passages, sifting out meaningful word clusters, searching for supportive examples, and making deductions. (MKM)

Strategies are suggested for shifting the emphasis of remedial reading instruction from isolated skill instruction to reading in context. (MKM)

Discusses how most study skills are not appropriate for reading social studies textbooks. Asserts that sophisticated readers of social studies textbooks use a nation schema to organize the information. Finally, provides specific instructions on how to use a nation schema to teach social studies. (SRT)

Presents an annotated list of sources of tried-and-true activities that will help to put teachers on track with content area instruction. Intended as a resource for high school reading specialists who need to persuade content area teachers of the value of new and different instructional strategies. (SKC)

Shows how newspapers can provide valuable information for an individual's three economic personalities--consumer, producer, and citizen. Describes class activities using the newspaper to explore information related to these roles. (MM)

Describes a technique using expository text structures and graphic organizers as the basis for taking notes from content area texts. This technique can be transferred to notetaking during lectures. (RS)

Synthesizes documents from the ERIC database concerning the research paper as an effective tool in developing communication and study skills, and suggests strategies for helping students successfully research and write a paper. (RS)

Schoolwide independent reading can have a positive effect on students' reading habits, and principals can be major supporters of successful reading programs. Principals can: (1) provide worthwhile staff development; (2) suggest using independent reading to promote creative reading; (3) be ambitious about promoting independent reading; yet (4) be…

Reports on the effective use of hierarchcial and nonhierarchical reading guides with John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath." Indicates reading guides improve comprehension, provide transferable skills, and create positive feelings about learning. (NH)