A common, long-held belief of teachers and parents is that "the more you read, the better you read." Because many students either did not choose to read at home or did not have books at home, schools began to provide independent reading time in the classroom. As the years progressed, more and more requirements were added into English…

Many of us are plagued by negative memories of sustained silent reading. In some of these memories, we are the students, attempting to read a book that didn't hold our interest or trying to read over the din of our disengaged classmates. In other memories, we are the teachers, suffering through a ten-minute classroom management nightmare, deciding…

For many teachers of middle school and high school, the greatest challenge they face in trying to help struggling readers improve their skills can be students' self-perception. When young people do not see themselves as members of the "literacy club," it is not just a simple matter of persuading them that becoming a fluent reader is…

This innovative guide shows teachers how to transform high-school English students into passionate readers with a trust-based approach that honors both student choice and teacher expertise. The authors begin with a series of reflective invitations to help teachers rediscover trust in themselves and in their students. The book offers methods for…

This article summarizes conclusions reached regarding the independent reading perspectives and practices of eight elementary teachers, acknowledging the significant role teacher understandings and practices play on the literacy learning process and specifically on classroom independent reading. The commonalities in beliefs and practices regarding…

Published in partnership with WestEd, this significantly updated second edition of the bestselling book contains strategies for helping students in middle school through community college gain the reading independence to master subject area textbooks and other material. Features of this book include: (1) Based on the Reading Apprenticeship…

If reading is understood as consisting of multiple kinds of thinking, then listening is one of the most important forms of mental action in which readers engage. Readers must hear sentences in order to make sense of nested syntactic relationships. They also must hear sounds that occur within the text in order to participate in its world, and they…

This guide highlights the basic operation of software that provides a framework and tools for students to encounter computer-based multimedia reviews of the books the have read independently given minimal equipment and expertise, and suggests ways to go beyond the basic operation for those who have the capability to do so. After a background and…

This article makes a case for devoting time to independent reading and then describes the "Book Bistro," a strategy for promoting independent reading. Research concerning adolescents and reading is reviewed, followed by detailed instructions for implementing Book Bistro and advice from teachers. In Book Bistro, adolescent students are invited once…

A rationale and procedure for promoting outside reading and assigning book reports. (RL)

Exploring all the essential components of a quality upper elementary literacy program, this book is a resource for fostering success that will enable students to enjoy a future filled with literacy journeys. Sections of the book address: special help for struggling readers and writers; a basic structure of the literacy program within a framework…

Suggests that content-area teachers can encourage students' voluntary reading by maintaining classroom collections of subject-related books and magazines and by providing class time for independent reading. (SJL)

Intended for classroom teachers and administrators who want their schools to reflect commitment to the idea that reading for pleasure is an essential part of every successful reading program, this book provides suggestions by which educators can coordinate their efforts with librarians and parents to get children to read voluntarily. The book is…

Trends for kindergarten through second-grade children were identified from data collected in a longitudinal study of how children develop science concepts. The study involved approximately 325 children from three school districts. A heuristic model of science learning was developed representing children's entering ability, home background, home…

Trends for third- and fourth-grade students were identified from data collected in a longitudinal study of how children learn science concepts. Approximately 325 children from three school districts participated in this study from their first week in kindergarten through the end of sixth grade. A heuristic model of science learning was developed…