Describes how the Centre of Excellence for Literacy and Literacy Education in Nigeria strives to promote reading clubs at the grass-roots level to foster literacy empowerment. Shows how these reading clubs enhance democratic participation and critical thinking. Offers a sample of material for discussion and discussion questions for mature readers.…

Presents a position paper on adolescent literacy and what adolescents deserve developed by the International Reading Association's Commission on Adolescent Literacy. Outlines some questions and answers about adolescent literacy. Details seven principles for supporting adolescents' literacy growth as they deserve. Lists suggested readings and notes…

Argues that interactive play increases literacy learning in grades K-12 by fostering a community atmosphere, encouraging teamwork, and reducing the influence of social hierarchies. Outlines three games designed to teach an aspect of English language arts, and describes a vocabulary review game the author has used for years in a variety of classes.…

Argues that books in Spanish can engage Spanish-speaking students in the reading process, and that fostering the love of reading is a necessary first step to reading proficiency in any language. Offers brief descriptions of 16 recently published books in Spanish, and describes a large database of recommended books for children and adolescents in…

Interviews children and adults living in rural areas in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India regarding education, revealing individuals' hopes and dreams against a backdrop of severe class, caste, and gender stratification. Examines the promise of schooling and literacy in India, the relationship of schooling and literacy to work, and of…

Investigates issues of empowerment and language learning for English-as-a-Second-Language workers (in workplace literacy projects) making the transition from one type of workplace culture to another. Describes the project and participants, how workplace structures and linguistic hierarchies disempowered second-language learners, benefits of…

Addresses paper versus electronic publication, discussing the implications for reading and writing, and whether it is as easy to read from a screen as from a book. Notes that the computer medium arose from a research project to design the perfect book, the Dynabook. (SR)

Finds no significant differences in the reading comprehension, reading speed, and attitudes toward instruction of remedial community college readers using a computer program for their independent lab work, compared to students using text materials. Finds that the computer users read more efficiently. (SR)

Interviews 20 vocational high school students about school and family histories, present school experiences, and reflections about their literacy histories. Discusses three themes that emerged: connections and disconnections between home and school literacy practices (and resulting frustrations and failures); difficulties meeting standards set by…

Offers a brief explanation of how middle school students are taught to read critically, discern fact from opinion, and understand that not everything printed can be accepted at face value, by using a procedure called Critical Reading Instruction That Improves Comprehension Skills (CRITICS). (SR)

Describes how a 7th-grade reading class used character journals to explore the sailing and the sinking of the "Titanic." Describes how the students took ownership of their research and enjoyed reading and writing about actual events as they became a passenger or crew member aboard the "Titanic," explored the ship, experienced the sinking, wrote an…

Describes a collective case study of 12 high school juniors who identified themselves as avid readers of popular fiction. Finds strong reading relationships between parents and high school students. Describes the different roles that parents played in their adolescent children's reading lives. Looks at implications for secondary English classrooms…

Describes a successful strategy that develops critical thinking in middle school classrooms via an intersection of character education, adolescent literature, and authentic assessment. Describes the procedure in which students explore the literature to determine how positive and negative character traits are demonstrated, with discussions on these…

Discusses adolescents' lack of interest in news and relates it to their apathy and cynicism about wider social and political issues. Examines whether the news media are to blame for this situation, and to what extent they might help overcome it. Discusses how news media, and the social and political issues they represent, can be made relevant to…

Provides brief annotations of the 1999 Young Adults Choices List for 1999: 30 trade books for young adults published in 1997 that were chosen by secondary school students in 5 different regions in the United States as their favorites. (SR)