Describes the procedures for writing "Jack Tales," adaptations of the familiar folktale "Jack and the Beanstalk." Discusses how this writing activity integrates reading and writing across the curriculum and effectively heightens multicultural awareness as students try to apply the basic plot structure to diverse cultural settings. (MG)

Discusses how picture books can be used in the classroom with intermediate grade students. Provides examples of books and projects that have been used on the following topics: issues of war and peace, the environment, relationships between generations, and the development of self. (MG)

Describes how a unit titled "Alice Adjective" can be presented dramatically by the teacher in four lessons. (MG)

Describes how the author and her kindergarten students created a cooking center and restaurant in which they participate in regular cooking projects to provide opportunities to apply newly acquired skills in reading, writing, and math. (MG)

Asserts that, when students know that someone they trust is behind them, they gain the confidence they need to become strategic learners. Describes the mentor program for bright underachievers at Benchmark School in Media, Pennsylvania. (PRA)

Describes the project "Expanding Literacy for All" which was designed to promote the literacy skills of 13 adults and 36 third graders in Texas. Finds that, when third grade students and illiterate adults become pen pals, both groups learn more about what it means to enter the community of readers and writers. (PRA)

Asserts that students gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of what they have read when they have systematic opportunities to integrate reading with drama, oral language, and art. Discusses how to use drama, Reader's Theater, oral interactions, and the visual arts to improve reading comprehension. (PRA)

Describes how learning of important strategies in reading and writing is fostered by organizing instruction so that students benefit from both teacher-led and student-led instruction. Discusses text choices, integrating reading and writing with strategy instruction, the teacher-led shared-text pattern, and the student-selected singular text…

Describes how specially trained teachers working with small groups of children helped to reduce the risk of failure that was threatening many low-achieving first grade students. Provides details of the Early Intervention in Reading Program of a small school district in the midwest. (PRA)

Argues that providing students with a repertoire of important learning strategies is one crucial way of helping all students to become independent readers, thinkers, and learners. Describes a third grade reading environment and the practices of the Students Achievement Independent Learning Program (SAIL). (PRA)

Describes how a professor, a teacher, and a classroom full of children began to learn more about themselves as readers and writers and how that increased understanding formed the basis for literacy portfolios. (PRA)

Illustrates how teachers can use flexible grouping to help all children experience success in reading and writing. Notes that, because flexible grouping is relatively new, more research will need to be conducted to further clarify its strengths and weaknesses. (PRA)

Examines what is entailed in effective phonics instruction and shows how such instruction can be integrated into a wide variety of approaches to the teaching of beginning reading. Discusses nine guidelines for exemplary phonics instruction that can be incorporated into classrooms using basal readers, whole-language philosophy, or shared reading of…

Describes a model for staff development that encourages teachers to make decisions about their learning and professional growth. Explains how the model was developed and implemented. Shares results of the model's effectiveness along with recommendations for improvement. (PRA)

Reviews and introduces children's literature written and illustrated by Canadians. Includes books by Monica Hughes, Robert Munsch, Ted Harrison, Ian Wallace, and others. (PRA)