Responds to an article ("On Balanced Reading") in the December 1998/January 1999 issue of this journal. Argues for a closer look and more evidence before committing to "balanced" models of literacy education. Discusses criticisms of Reading Recovery programs. (SR)

Argues that children can be encouraged to develop a lifelong devotion to books through the act of adults reading aloud to children. Considers why this strategy works and outlines better applications of it. Concludes that reading aloud to children has many benefits, especially when used in a literature-based approach. (HB)

Replies to an article in this issue that responded to an earlier article ("On Balanced Reading") by this author. Argues that Welna's unbalanced coverage of research and critique is the very fuel that continues the Reading Wars. Argues that a study of past and present research can lead the profession to common ground. (SR)

Questions the facilitative effects of Reading Recovery reported in an earlier article. Argues that differences between Reading Recovery and other treatments in level of teacher training and experience, and in actual time and use of time for instruction, may account for the differential effects of Reading Recovery over other treatments. Challenges…

Responds to an earlier article in this issue about the effectiveness of Reading Recovery. Suggests that achieving an instructional match between compared programs is nonsense. Argues that researchers need to address bigger questions in order to further understand complex, changing educational environments. (RS)

Responds to a response to an article in this issue concerning the effectiveness of Reading Recovery. Remains steadfast in assertion that alternative explanations exist for the findings reported in the original article. (RS)

Reviews a number of beginning reading materials that can be used in improving children's reading skills in a variety of content areas. (FL)

Suggests 10 classroom-tested activities that improve reading comprehension. (DF)

Describes two aspects of reading theory: a reader's background knowledge and the organization of text events and ideas. Illustrates how these aspects were applied to instructional design and discusses the results of this application. Includes recommendations on how to apply background knowledge and to create more comprehensible texts. (RDN)

The acquisition of reading fluency crucially involves the beginning reader's tacit recognition that he or she must learn to compensate for the absence of graphic signals corresponding to certain prosodic cues by making better use of the morphological and syntactic cues that are preserved. The success of the method of repeated readings and similar…

Phonological awareness has little, if anything, to do with reading or the acquisition of literacy. Learned opinion has been divided as to the relationship of phonological awareness and reading. Some scholars hold that the ability to analyze speech into discrete phonic segments is a precursor to, even a cause of, successful reading acquisition,…

According to this paper, a good reading teacher is able to analyze problems faced by students in reading and remediate that which is necessary. The paper stresses that the reading teacher needs to be a good observer of student reading habits to notice where to intervene to improve the skills and attitudes of the reader. It discusses diagnosis and…

Notes that the number of English as a second language students enrolled in American schools is increasing and presents an integrated language lesson plan designed to meet their needs and match their abilities. (FL)

Provides independent analysis of the extant evaluations of Reading Recovery. Finds that students make greater than expected gains in reading, effects comparable to those accomplished by other effective educational interventions; and that programs are less effective in maintaining student gains and more costly than has been claimed. Offers…

Responds to an article in the April 1998 issue of this journal. Shares evidence about the effectiveness of peer tutoring. Discusses literacy tutoring of K-3 emergent readers by volunteers. Explains why tutoring is not teaching, and offers a model for successful tutoring practices. (SR)