Reports on several studies that examined the use of newspapers in classrooms. Cites research supporting the conclusions that newspaper training programs improved teacher attitudes toward using newspapers in the classroom and newspaper use influenced students' reading attitudes, reading interests, reading achievement, and classroom verbal…

Reports one south Texas school's efforts at promoting family literacy through a workshop program for low socioeconomic status families. Outlines activities of each of three workshops designed to foster good reading attitudes and abilities by teaching parents strategies and techniques to use when reading to their children. (SR)

Examines a child's stance toward becoming literate in Spanish at home and school. Discusses the kinds of literacy activities he engaged in and the context in which he did so. Points out this child's ability to make connections between various literacy contexts, and suggests ways that teachers can foster similar connections for other children. (SR)

Used participant observation, child interviews, and teacher meetings to examine reading strategies that emerged in a first-grade, multiethnic, urban classroom over 20 weeks. Found that children used five reading strategies, including narrative storytelling, relying on memory, and word-for-word reading; tensions emerged between strategies that…

Describes the effect of including literary works of interest to adults on a developmental reading course offered to incarcerated adults. Notes that proper phrasing and intonation were identified and emphasized as aids to comprehension. Discusses skills emphasized in the course. Reports that classroom discussions were lively and interesting. (RS)

Provides suggestions that teachers can pass on to parents about how computers can be used to provide meaningful early literacy opportunities. Includes seven rules of thumb useful for parents who want information on using computers for educational purposes. (MG)

Questions the validity of Munby's (1978) approach to analyzing learners' language needs. The results of a study at Hasanuddin University (Indonesia) suggest that a two-stage analysis may be appropriate to explore an organization's complexity and dynamism, and then to target the specific language needs of the constituent units. (Author/CB)

Describes a reading practice program offered by a public library for children in grades two through six who are reading below their grade level. The focus on reading for pleasure and developing self confidence through individual sessions with volunteers is discussed. An assessment of the program is also presented. (CLB)

Describes a sustained silent reading program in a 9th-grade reading class of 60 students, most of them at-risk students. Finds that, on average, students improved 3.9 grade levels in their reading. (SR)

Describes over 20 picture books that motivate beginning readers to become more proficient at reading and to develop a love of reading. Discusses the role of illustrations in engaging the reader and contributing to story development. Recommends parental assistance to help children enjoy the books' humor and subtitles. (JB)

Presents a father's perspective on the outcome of tracking in school. Describes how a child with an early love of literacy ended up as a disabled reader. Points out how grouping and tracking systematically destroyed the child's ability and interest in reading. (SR)

Describes how a student managed and operated book store put inexpensive, high-quality literature into the hands of students at 61 middle and junior high schools in Indiana. (MG)

Recounts the author's experiences as he developed a love for reading in elementary school, discovered in high school the element of power that reading held, and endured isolation in college. Describes his work with struggling African-American adolescent readers. (SR)

Compared students' acquisition and use of reading strategies and reading attitudes in skills-based and whole-language settings. Participants were low-income first graders. Students completed a common reading task. Researchers coded literacy strategies for self-correction and substitutions and conducted classroom observations. Children in the…

Describes how one teacher researcher helped a class of low-achieving African American eighth graders dramatically increase their reading achievement. Discusses barriers to reading and creating a supportive classroom community. Describes how the author combined explicit skill and strategy development using a framework to address fluency, word…