Describes four lessons for "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr, developed by teachers in the Kamehameha Elementary Education Program (KEEP), Hawaii. Observes the links between the two basic activities, reading journals and small group discussions, as well as students' growth in thinking about and responding to the novel. (MG)

Explains how and why journals were chosen as a component of literature group reading. Shares excerpts from the journals of several children. Draws conclusions about the value of journals in contrast to more conventional written assignments. (MG)

Describes the buddy journal (a diary that two students keep together, in which they "converse" in writing) and suggests ways to use such journals to build children's literacy. Proposes that buddy journals can highlight the reading-writing connection for children by involving purposeful, personal communication to enhance students' literacy…

Explains the details of a method of teaching text structure that proved successful in improving both reading comprehension and summary writing of fifth graders. Reports that students quickly learned how to attend to and remember main ideas from problem-solution passages in their textbooks and how to write summaries. (MG)

Describes the benefits that storytelling can have on the development of listening and reading comprehension and the enhancement of oral and written expression. Presents an example of how storytelling was used to realize these benefits in a third-grade classroom. (MG)

Examines the utility of informal reading inventories (IRI) and acknowledges four limitations of the research. Indicates that no validity-enhancing measures were implemented in conjunction with the three IRIs analyzed. Suggests that IRI vocabulary questions do not appear to be useful. (MG)

Identifies and annotates 30 outstanding trade books published for children and adolescents that teachers recommend for curriculum use. Notes that selection criteria include books that may not be discovered by children without guidance from an educator, and books that have potential for use across the curriculum. (MG)

Offers a five-point checklist that educators might use to determine the content validity of materials labeled whole language. Recommends "The Whole Language Sourcebook" and the "Story Box" program as high content validity materials. (MG)

Recommends four books which describe how to teach children to read and write about real-world matters. States that children who are engaged with meaningful materials that they have helped select and tasks they have helped plan require less extrinsic motivation than those who are assigned meaningless materials and tasks. (MG)

States that writing is the one language outlet that enables a person to capture and examine thoughts. Notes the growing number of studies that help teachers evaluate writing as a learning technique. (MG)

Describes the use of technology in education, observes that technology (film, radio, television, and computers) has had little impact on educational reform. Proposes that to control what happens in the future, educators must take a proactive stand to ensure that technology serves the needs of educators and students. (MG)

Reviews two tests which highlight important trends in the assessment of learning disabilities, and presents potentially valuable, practical developments in assessment. Identifies the recurring problem of the lack of a theory, construct, or clear definition to guide the assessment of learning disabilities. (MG)

Suggests literacy development in early childhood can be enhanced by creating a classroom environment rich in print. Shows how careful preparation of materials and setting promotes literacy by encouraging voluntary, spontaneous literacy behaviors while children are at free play in school. (MG)

Presents a scheme for organizing the various dimensions of parent-school involvement. Discusses four aspects of the model: monitoring, informing, participation, and empowerment. (MG)

Describes a reading program, Reading Recovery, that provides intensive instruction for young children who are at risk of failure during frist grade. Provides responses solicited from four Reading Recovery teacher leaders. (MG)