The purpose of this publication is to define the program of kindergarten through grade 12 reading instruction in Montgomery County, Maryland, schools. It lists the reading objectives and minimum performance levels and identifies, by grade level, those which are to receive the highest teaching/learning priority. It also contains instructions for…

The premises of this article are that the teacher should be the prime developer of curriculum and that total staff involvement in curriculum development must be a reality if instructional improvement in reading is to be effected. With this in mind, eight musts for teachers are set forth and expounded upon. (1) The teacher must set the scope of the…

Presents two basic parallel block elementary school schedules (schedules in which a block of time is scheduled for essential and/or desired small skill groups parallel to large instructional activities). Contends that parallel block scheduling in elementary schools can lead to improved instructional programs for low achievers. (GC)

This guide provides specific information on designing and implementing a reading program. The guide is divided into the following six parts: (1) "Planning for Instruction," including sections on setting ideal goals, establishing a "reality base," and organizing a work flow; (2) "Content Organization," including sections on the structure of…

A study was conducted to determine whether there is a typical instructional sequence used to teach reading in third and fourth grade classrooms, to what extent the core text-related sequence (a child-related introduction of the text, followed by reading, and then discussion and interpretation of text content) is used, and if it is not used, what…

The results of an earlier experimental study of the effectiveness of a set of principles for small group instruction in first grade reading groups called for a revision of the list of principles. Revised principles were written for (1) group organization (seating, transitions, starting the lesson); (2) the introduction of lessons and activities…

This paper raises a series of questions about the nature of classroom instruction, in general, and about mathematics and reading instruction in the lower elementary school grades, in particular. It focuses on such aspects of the social organization of instruction as (1) the diversity of student populations, (2) the motivating force behind…

Observations of third- and fourth-grade classroom reading lessons revealed not only that text-related reading comprehension was seldom taught, but also that a coordinated or topically organized sequence of text reading instruction was rare. (FL)

Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) is recommended as an efficient, objective, flexible, and reliable way to compose ability-based instructional groups in both regular and special education settings. Steps for using CBM and specific applications for grouping in reading and mathematics instruction are offered. (DB)

Three conclusions were drawn about within-class grouping after reviewing the work of several researchers on the following topics: teacher and student behavior, academic achievement, perceptions about reading groups, social class membership and reading group assignment, and the role of group cohesiveness. The conclusions were that: (1) although the…

A group composed of 124 classroom teachers, reading teachers, and graduate students in reading specialization programs participated in a study that examined how teachers select and use information in judging students' probable performance in reading groups. Each subject read two case studies (one describing a boy with social problems but no…

On the premise that teacher decision making significantly influences instructional effectiveness, this study gives some insight into the decision-making process that shaped the course of reading instruction in four elementary teachers' classrooms. During one school year, the fieldwork method of research was used to discover the decisions teachers…

Two prime factors are noted in the attainment of excellence in education: (1) an excellent teacher and (2) a situation that makes individualized instruction possible. Researchstudies comparing such grouping methods as homogeneous, heterogeneous, the Joplin Plan, team teaching, and nongrading are reviewed. The author suggests that school…

Offers suggestions for organizing the primary classroom to provide ideal conditions for teaching reading. (DF)

Discusses thematic centers in which teachers select a theme and design of several classroom stations on the topic. Describes application of the technique in one Canadian class of six-, seven-, and eight-year olds, many of whom were English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students. Identifies characteristics of the technique. (SG)