As the popularity of project-based learning grows, so does the importance of understanding how this instructional approach can support students' learning and development. The authors describe a project-based approach to literacy and social studies instruction that research has shown to be effective. Key characteristics of the approach and…

This article bridges research to practice by summarizing an interactive content-enriched shared book reading approach that Spanish-speaking parents of preschool-age children can easily use in the home to accelerate content vocabulary knowledge in Spanish. The approach was implemented in preschool classrooms using a transitional bilingual education…

Research shows that children accrue vocabulary knowledge by understanding relationships between new words and their connected concepts. This article describes three research-based principles that preschool teachers can use to design shared book reading lessons that accelerate content vocabulary knowledge by helping young children to talk about…

Often, English-language development (ELD) is taught during a dedicated time of the school day. There is often a mismatch between the content of ELD and the lessons taught during core instruction provided during the remainder of the day. During core instruction, teachers use specially designed academic instruction in English strategies to ensure…

The current wave of school reform, with its emphasis on assessment of basic reading, writing, and math skills, has resulted in a diminished role for other core subjects. In the United States, the No Child Left Behind Act calls for the addition of assessments in science, but it seems that social studies will be a core discipline that is left…

This article explores one context in which language arts instruction can be enhanced through digital technologies. It describes how preservice elementary education teachers first investigated aspects of visual literacy and then engaged in digital and traditional multimodal forms of response to historical nonfiction literature. They read,…

This article explores the impact of integrating literacy and social studies instruction through Readers Theatre and shadow puppetry. During an inquiry-based social studies unit on national symbols, second graders created shadow-puppet performances. During the literacy block students worked in small groups to research a topic, develop a script,…

Describes an instructional framework "zooming in and zooming out" that helps teachers scaffold student learning of important vocabulary and concepts in social studies. Describes procedures for implementation, depicting a lesson used by a fifth-grade teacher to discuss readings about Harriet Tubman. (SR)

Tests syllabication rules on social studies tests and basals and compares findings with other research. (TO)

Presents a rationale and four lessons for word study and critical thinking in a social studies class using folk songs. (TO)

Presents the Planning Pyramid, a framework for planning in content area classrooms, designed to help teachers plan for inclusionary instruction and to meet the challenge of content coverage in general education classrooms for students with a broad range of academic needs. Offers a science example to show how it works. (SR)