Provides a system for evaluating both the quality and the appropriateness of the placement and instructional tests that accompany basal reading series. (FL)

Reviews research using sentence length as a factor in predicting readability and discusses the possibility of sentence complexity as a more accurate variable. (TO)

Examines 22 recently published children's books with female protagonists in positive, nonstereotyped roles. (TO)

Discusses "Cobblestone," a social studies magazine, and "Penny Power," a consumer education publication, in this the second of a two-part article concerning content area periodicals for intermediate grade students. (FL)

Suggests books and other materials that are interesting and supportive for struggling readers and reluctant readers, in several categories: repetitive texts, texts that can be performed, and popular texts that have particular appeal for reluctant readers. (SR)

Presents brief annotations and bibliographic data for 30 children's books identified by teachers as outstanding trade books for children and adolescents--books that are exceptional in curriculum use, good for reading aloud at home, and useful for background information on a wide range of questions. (SR)

Presents a list of 32 outstanding trade books for children and adolescents selected by teachers as exceptional. Offers annotations for each book which include a brief description and bibliographic data, plus suggestions for use in the school curriculum. (SR)

Describes the "Children's Choices" program. Discusses how books are selected and annotated. Provides an annotated bibliography of children's favorite books for all ages, beginning independent reading, younger readers, middle grades, and older readers. Discusses how parents and teachers can use the listing. (PRA)

Presents a variety of activities teachers can use to provide students access to fiction and nonfiction books along a continuum of difficulty. (PRA)

Discusses how a fourth-grade language arts teacher (who had moved from basal instruction to a program based on students' selection of literature) used "circle discussions" to satisfy, in part, the accountability concerns of parents and administrators. Notes that these discussions of literature among the students became an integral part…

Offers brief descriptions of 47 recently published children's books that break different kinds of barriers and boundaries: geographic, cultural, familial, generational, historical, and literary. (SR)

Argues that multicultural education, if it is to be effective and meaningful, needs to be woven throughout the curriculum. Discusses 11 children's books that take into account the age and maturity level of students as they tell forthright stories of the victims, heroes, and just plain folks of the Holocaust, slavery, and the involuntary of…

Outlines questions for teachers to consider when selecting books which may be challenged. Looks at two different stories of challenges to multicultural education, regarding whether an "outsider" has the right to relate the stories of another culture. Advocates using a wide variety of sources and stories, offering examples on the topic of slavery.…

Presents brief descriptions of 42 illustrated children's books, and notes how these books can provide support and demonstration to guide, inspire, and even instruct young writers. Presents the books in groups called: Igniting Ideas, Offering Perspectives, Revealing Self and Discovering Surroundings, Mixing Genres, Falling in Love with Language,…