Biographies are one of our best tools for diversifying the curriculum. In this article, we describe The Biography Clearinghouse, a free resource designed to inspire teachers to use high-quality biographies in their classrooms. We then elaborate on curricular possibilities in K-8 classrooms. We end with a discussion of the Investigate, Explore, and…

In this Teaching Tips article four time-saving systems to organize an elementary classroom library for successful inquiry instruction are shared. These systems include: Topic, Genre, Author, and Craft. Examples to assist teachers in organizing their own classroom libraries using one or more of these systems are also provided.

Teachers often use science trade books in the classroom for a number of reasons: to enhance science instruction, to augment an adopted science textbook, or to integrate literacy with subject-area content. Using Patricia Hunsader's mathematics trade book evaluation rubric published in the April 2004 issue of "Reading Teacher" as a model, the…

Reexamines the five criteria for selecting instructional resources: content validity, transfer potential, amount of reinforcement, quality of directions and instructional language, and adaptability and flexibility. Reviews "Listening: The Basic Connection," a listening program for third through eighth grade. (MG)

Describes six criteria for evaluating materials that will be addressed in forthcoming columns: content validity, transfer potential, adaptability/flexibility, amount of reinforcement, quality of directions and instructional language, and bias. Uses this criteria to evaluate "First-Start Read-Along Program 5," a reading series for primary students.…

Concludes that the letter close procedure is an effective instructional tool for most elementary children and becomes increasingly effective with each successive grade level. (Author)

Describes how students may be taught to read through the "imitative reading" approach and reviews read-along materials that can be used with this approach. (DD)

Provides a description of the materials and resources available in the Educational Resources Information System and explains how to gain access to the contents. (RB)

Reviews the literature in the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) on using newspapers to teach reading. (Author/RB)

Reviews materials for use in preparing listening-reading transfer lessons. (FL)

Adds content bias to the other criteria (content validity, transfer potential, amount of reinforcement, quality instructional language, and adaptability/flexibility) discussed previously in this column. Reviews seven literature resource materials to present a full set of criteria for evaluating them and to share new materials. (MG)

Describes a system for organizing a classroom library which uses a computer database and student librarians. (SR)

Reviews the full set of criteria to measure instructional resources. Reviews six new resources on comprehension materials that are appropriate for classroom use. (MG)

Reviews the literature on the importance of linguistics in reading instruction at the elementary level. (RB)