With some children, teachers can't work the usual way; they have to do strange things. By accepting his hatred, using military manuals as textbooks, and employing an unorthodox reward system, the author helped a difficult child learn to read at his grade level. (MT)

Classroom activities are suggested for improving the reading skills of elementary school students. Various approaches include tapes of children's reading, "real-life" reading, word-building connections, focus on sports, and parent involvement. (CJ)

Presents two opinions on motivating students through reading incentive programs. The first suggests that such programs benefit students by building self-esteem, with students earning while they learn. The second states that rewards may lower comprehension and dull long-term interest in reading, with children focusing on rewards rather than…

Describes how an elementary teacher encouraged her students to read novels using cooperative group activities based on popular television shows. Students divided into groups, took different roles, read a novel, and made a presentation to the class. When they finished the novel, they selected a new activity. (SM)

Researchers from the Center for the Study of Reading at the University of Illinois assert that inadequate reading textbooks and the failure to teach reading comprehension in the primary grades contribute to reading comprehension problems in the upper grades. Shortcomings of textbooks are specified and methods for teaching reading comprehension are…

A third-grade teacher's account of her struggle to determine the most appropriate methods for teaching reading skills includes grouping techniques, methods for creating interest in reading among the students, techniques for diagnosing reading levels, and a fifth dimensional approach to teaching beginning reading. (JN)

Describes how to use portfolios to track elementary students' reading and writing progress, offering teacher-to-teacher tips on the most effective use of portfolios in the classroom. The article discusses student self-evaluation through portfolios, reading- and writing-portfolio conferences, and teachers as learners. (SM)

This issue is devoted to articles describing education games in language arts, social studies, science, reading, and mathematics for the use of the elementary classroom teacher. (JD)

The systems approach to learning used in the majority of classrooms today redefines reading as its component skills. Two different approaches developed by teachers to teach reading as the sum of its components are presented. (JN)

The article explains how elementary teachers can strike a balance between whole language and traditional approaches to reading instruction, describing successful programs and sharing several teachers' suggestions for combining the two methods in the classroom. A list of reading resources is included. (SM)