A great deal has been learned about how standards, assessment, and resources can be used in combination to make a difference for students, teachers, and schools. It is in this context that the authors make the case for a set of interrelated, research-based policy principles to support schools in improving students' literacy achievement through…

Claims that the way people symbolize their experiences in speaking, listening, and writing can help them to understand literature and, ultimately, their personal life experiences. Claims that making meaning is fundamental to all language learning and that reading literature is analogous to other language learning experiences. (JD)

Suggests several activities designed to stimulate both the right and left sides of the brain when students are reading literary texts. (JL)

Stresses the importance and benefits of children helping each other learn to read. Includes suggestions and guidelines to reading instructors for structuring peer-directed activities. (HTH)

This study describes the interactions of three adult-child reading partnerships in a program that matches corporate volunteers with "at risk" students for weekly hour-long story reading sessions. Using discourse analysis within a sociocultural framework, the researcher identified variation in the way these partners were constructing the act and…

Describes a study that examined the ways students responded to the styles of texts and that also looked at the effects of repeated reading of the same passage and different task instructions. (JL)

Surveys current attitudes and ideas on how to motivate students to read literature. (JL)

Surveys materials in the ERIC system discussing the causes of reading reluctance and suggesting ways to encourage reading interest and skills. (HTH)

A study was conducted to examine the differences in reading instruction for good and poor readers. Poor readers were found to have less opportunity to read silently or aloud in the classroom and to read only half as many words as the good readers. (HTH)

Describes a fifth-grade classroom where student goal setting and self-evaluation were an integral part of the curriculum. Explores the growth and development of these students and their teacher. Discusses what brought about changes in instruction and learning. (RS)

Examines materials in the ERIC database on the Suggestopedia method of instruction which bypasses the mind's barriers to learning and increases learning and retention. (HTH)

Discusses three ways elementary teachers can improve student understanding expository text through reading and writing of information trade books: reading and writing about information trade books; reading and creating innovations on information trade books; and reading and writing retellings of information trade books. (SR)

Draws on social constructivist theory to present principles of reading instruction for struggling readers. Focuses on three social constructivist-based components that have been used successfully with struggling readers to enhance their reading instruction: a responsive literacy environment, explicit comprehension-strategy instruction, and time…

Second-grade students were divided into groups subjected to three programs namely, Direct Instruction, Open Court and literature based program, in order to determine the effectiveness of the three programs. The results indicated that the Open Court and Direct Instruction programs did not improve the children's reading.

Presents an overview of research on classroom drama which shows that its use produces positive effects on children's reading, writing, and oral language. Suggests additional questions requiring exploration, and urges researchers to emphasize qualitative rather than quantitative analyses. (ARH)