Readers Theatre has been used to introduce critical issues, promote fluency among English learners and non-English learners, teach vocabulary, and integrate content in the classroom. Previous studies of Readers Theatre application have demonstrated an increase in student reading fluency, motivation, and confidence. The focus of this systemic…

Developing young children's vocabulary is essential for later reading success; thus, early childhood classrooms require a comprehensive vocabulary approach that teaches academic vocabulary. Yet even providing young children with child-friendly definitions of sophisticated words can be a challenge. First, the authors outline the components of a…

Literature circles undoubtedly foster literacy, but successful participation in literature circles requires students' social and emotional competence. The author presents findings from a study of a fifth-grade student who demonstrated socioemotional growth while participating in literature circles. Specifically, growth in intrapersonal and…

The iPad has risen to become the preferred affordable device for classroom instruction and reading. Although multiple studies have been conducted on reading instruction and efficacy using iPads, little empirical research currently has supported the iPad as a preferential choice by readers. Therefore, in this study, the author aimed to investigate…

This teaching tip reports a case of an author-illustrator study of Donald Crews. It discusses the suitability of his books for an author-illustrator study in preschool classrooms and emphasizes the significance of his work for family literacy among racial and ethnic minority groups. A Head Start classroom of preschoolers investigated Crews's books…

In this article, the authors first review the research literature to show why supporting talk from the start of school is important for students' long-term literacy development. The authors then define and describe disciplinary talk and argue that it is an important entry point into science and disciplinary literacy learning for young students.…

Children's literature plays an essential role in the literacy development of children. This department column focuses on the teaching and use of children's literature and provides educators with information about a wide range of books across multiple genres that are representative of the diverse world in which we live. A strong emphasis is placed…

The elementary grades provide a rich context for literacy and science learning. Reading, writing, and talk support students' conceptual understanding of and engagement with science. The authors provide theoretical and research evidence to support the teaching of five instructional strategies that can facilitate literacy and science learning in…

Proficient writers spend substantial time planning for writing, and that planning begins with analyzing the writing task. They spend time considering the topic, the audience and its needs, and the genre and form of the writing. This rhetorical analysis helps them set goals, orient their attention, and get organized. Task analysis can also help…

Barriers to technology integration in instruction include a lack of time, resources, and professional development. One potential approach to overcoming these barriers is through collaborative work, or professional learning communities. This article focuses on one group of teachers who leveraged their professional learning community to focus on…

The growing popularity of graphic novels for younger readers is hard to miss. This article provides specific ways to think about, recognize, and teach with multimodal texts that leverage student interest. In this English language arts unit, we taught a sixth-grade class how to read and comprehend the complex design elements common to the graphic…

This Teaching Tip describes how one second-grade teacher used whole-class repeated reading (WCRR) to promote social interaction and develop reading confidence with English learners (ELs). The authors share a brief review of professional literature on the challenges of ELs and the benefits of repeated reading and WCRR. The authors also provide…

Many teachers make reading and writing poetry an important part of the school day. They use different instructional strategies that invite students to write poetry in meaningful, engaging, and creative ways. This article describes an instructional strategy that invites students to write etheree poetry across the curriculum. It discusses benefits…

This study employed case study methodology and design research to examine what aesthetic transactions (readers' thoughts, feelings, associations, etc. that arise during a text encounter) students constructed in response to texts in a Gothic studies reading unit created by the author. The study was conducted in a seventh-grade reading classroom.…

Computer games and computer-assisted instruction have become prevalent in reading classrooms. However, research-based guidance for teacher use of such resources has not progressed at the same rate. In lieu of research, myths circulate about the utility of these resources, particularly when students use computer games independently. The authors…