Argues that by improving students' access to information books, teachers can do a better job of helping struggling readers become skillful, motivated readers. Documents the overwhelming use of stories in what students are expected to read and write, discusses the importance of balancing reading instruction with information text, and provides…

Discusses the motivational and other aspects of struggling readers. Notes classroom practices that are barriers to struggling readers in many middle schools. Presents motivation theory as a basis of the authors' proposed engagement model of classroom practice. Proposes six aspects of teaching and classroom context that represent their model of…

Informs practitioners working with struggling readers of the latest research on home influences on reading motivation. Provides research-based suggestions to teachers as to how they might enlist the assistance of parents in motivating struggling readers. Shows that supportive home environments foster motivation for reading, which leads to more…

Discusses the Facts and Feelings Response Diary strategy for assisting middle school students in inclusive settings to connect both efferently and aesthetically with informational text. Notes that this activity stimulates students to focus their attention on important facts and details and to use their prior experiences, feelings, interests,…

Summarizes the major points about self-efficacy and proposes instructional responses teachers can employ to raise self-efficacy. Delineates various instructional procedures that can enhance self-efficacy increasing motivation and achievement. Suggests that by giving choice, teaching literacy strategies, creating self-evaluations and changing the…

Focuses on the role of self-efficacy in classroom engagement and learning. Defines terms and describes a general framework for conceptualizing efficacy, engagement, and learning. Discusses how self-efficacy is related to different aspects of engagement and learning. Concludes with suggestions for classroom practice. (SG)

Suggests that few teachers understand the debilitating effect that social skill deficits have on a child's daily life. Notes that instructional strategies such as cooperative learning groups and social stories can help children improve their social behavior. Encourages all educators not only to emphasize academics, but also to seize any…

Distinguishes between intervention as an innovative concept of schooling and remediation as the traditional approach to learning problems. Discusses six characteristics of successful intervention programs for older, struggling students. Presents a theoretical rationale and practical applications for each. Concludes by reviewing the vision of how…

Describes a late intervention for older students with significant reading difficulties. Describes the kinds of reading and writing assessments necessary to determine a starting place for teachers. Finds that in almost every case, the students made substantial gains in a short period of time, and the teachers expressed satisfaction with both their…

Describes a technique that teachers have used successfully in inclusive settings to facilitate self-evaluation among students with learning problems. Notes two critical issues to consider when using self-evaluation procedures: how to teach students to self-evaluate, and what opportunities for self-evaluation can be offered to students. (SG)

Notes many students with disabilities benefit from prompts for reading in general education classrooms. Considers how visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile prompts implemented by the teacher, by the student with minimal teacher assistance, or by the student independently can facilitate more effective reading. Describes strategies for using…

Describes program alternatives in science for students with learning disabilities and their implications for reading and writing. Reviews opportunity to learn, the science performance of students with learning disabilities, science textbook instruction, literacy and science, and alternatives to read-dependent science programs. Presents an…

Notes that teachers and students with and without disabilities often struggle to use history textbooks effectively. Explores current concerns (e.g. text structure, readability) regarding history textbooks and provides recommendations for modifying instruction to improve students' acquisition of history knowledge. Reports adaptations in content and…

Focuses on the complementary model of Lawton's (1999) three collaborative instructional models. Notes that the complementary model establishes the classroom teacher as the educator primarily responsible for instruction. Discusses collaboration during reading instruction, helping students prepare to read, helping students engage in the reading…

Considers how expressive written language is considered one of the most difficult areas of academic achievement for children, especially those with learning disabilities. Discusses two narrative writing models: the story frame and the story pyramid. (SG)