Describes how storytelling helps children develop competence in reading and writing skills by providing frameworks for understanding text. Suggests stories that can be used, and discusses possible extension activities. Notes that teachers should choose a variety of fictional, biographical, and informational tales so children are exposed to…

Discusses the relationship between vocabulary and reading comprehension. Cites recent research supporting the utility of both direct and indirect vocabulary instruction. (MM)

Discusses reasons why teaching difficult vocabulary in a selection may not improve comprehension. Emphasizes the importance of teaching vocabulary that represents ideas or concepts central to the reading selection. (MM)

Describes one integrated curriculum classroom which was transformed into an Asian museum. Discusses how to develop an integrated curriculum, why curriculum integration is important, and myths of integrated curriculum. Encourages teachers to take the first steps toward an integrated curriculum approach to student learning. (SR)

Discusses two training programs and five books designed to facilitate teachers' efforts to integrate the curriculum. (SR)

Explores the role of vocabulary in reading development and suggests some classroom-tested approaches for nurturing students' vocabulary development and interest. Discusses vocabulary growth, vocabulary and concept development, and active processing of vocabulary. Discusses applications and examples of active-process vocabulary instruction,…

Draws on the Teachers Learning Collaborative (a network of three teacher study groups across southeastern Michigan) to illustrate the potential of teacher research for informing the field, as well as to demonstrate a particular model within which such research can be accomplished. (SG)

Outlines a vocabulary strategy that transforms students into "word detectives," while immersing them in reading and encouraging them to find out the meaning of unknown words. Describes how "lead detectives" use graphic organizers, briefings on word "suspects," and notes several extensions to this activity. (SR)

The content areas provide rich contexts for developing vocabulary. This article presents some principles and a lesson model--the learning cycle--that can be used to develop vocabulary while building understanding in science. Because science instruction and the learning cycle model promote learning in real-world contexts, they provide students with…

Building on the work of an earlier article ["The Word Writing CAFE: Assessing Student Writing for Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency," Dorothy J. Leal, "Reading Teacher," 59 (4) Dec 2005 (EJ738016)], these authors investigated the use of a simple assessment tool with a different audience to yield similar useful results. (Contains 3 figures and 4…

Argues that a problem with the storage and conduit metaphor lies in its attention to representational knowledge while giving little attention to cognitive knowledge. (JC)

Summarizes ERIC materials dealing with the role of phonics, spelling rules, and word lists in the spelling program. (FL)

Concludes that direct instruction and practice in following directions increase students' task performance ability and stresses the need to use intrinsically motivating materials in language arts developmental skills programs. Tables and bibliography. (RW)

Presents a language arts unit designed to create bridges between the real world and the story in order to help children develop both social understanding and reading comprehension skills. (FL)