Shows that before students can begin doing research and inquiry on their own, they need to experience extensive nonfiction reading and writing and learn to generate questions and find resources. Offers a list of strategies and ideas that will help prepare the teacher, students, parents, and other teachers for the inquiry process. (SR)

Describes a project in Romania that trains elementary and secondary teachers in folklore and oral history fieldwork methodology, so that their own students can collect materials from their communities that are pertinent to their lives and bring it back to the classroom. Describes successful outcomes from around Romania in the project's first year.…

Offers a brief historical perspective on Latino folk literature. Discusses 26 recently published books for children and adolescents in both English and Spanish, organized into origin tales, tales based on historical facts, trickster tales, and cumulative tales. Describes activities to use with these books to foster literacy and make powerful…

Examines why videos are a good staff development tool. Discusses 14 recent educational videos appropriate for staff development in individual, small-group, or large-group settings. Notes responses from primary teachers and from pre-service teachers about the videos reviewed. (SR)

Investigates eight first-grade whole language classrooms in terms of what phonics skills and concepts were taught, where phonics instruction occurred, and how it was conducted. Shows gains in ability to decode and encode words for all students. Finds that teachers responded to individual needs of learners, and that skills were taught within the…

Offers responses from three teachers regarding how best to prepare students for standardized tests while maintaining meaningful instruction. (SR)

Offers brief descriptions of 35 recently published children's books that view language as a means of expressing ideas, telling stories, and creating imaginative possibilities. Groups books into those that use language of imagination, of performance, of music, of visual arts, and expressive language. Notes a few ideas on inviting readers to respond…

Argues United States schools are in danger of failing to promote democratic values and democratic modes of thinking. Looks at policy mandates and the erosion of democracy, noting that critical reading of texts has taken a back seat to "teaching the basics," and that texts themselves have become a primary control mechanism in the de-democratization…

Argues that the International Reading Association (IRA) has an important and key role to play in the current volatile United States government policy environment. Looks at perceptions of literacy failure. Discusses the Association's involvement with the Reading Excellence Act, and outlines what the Association must continue to do to assure that…

Argues that a zealous focus by reading researchers on differences creates the impression of utter chaos in the field, and serves students, teachers, and the public poorly. Argues that researchers can contribute to educational policy (rather than forever nullifying one another) by focusing on the considerable consensus about literacy. (SR)

Relates how in Kentucky a legislative act was necessary before substantial change in education occurred to address the achievement gap in educational attainment. Describes how educators in Kentucky were effective advocates for legislative restructuring of schools. Notes factors that contributed to this success. (SR)

Argues that singing and songwriting activities can complement a wide range of literacy learning activities, and offer emerging readers learning opportunities with active participation. Provides examples of singing and songwriting activities that support early literacy instruction in the areas of letter names and sounds, phonemic awareness, print…

Describes how one middle school band and orchestra teacher, in response to his principal's call for schoolwide attention to improving student literacy, engaged students in reading improvement while also increasing musical knowledge. Describes how students each week read one or more short, music-related articles and complete a brief writing…

Describes how, over three years, teachers, students, parents, and administrators of a girls' school in India built a school library, going from a small locked-up collection with no check-out system to a warm and busy library room that was a popular hub of activity at the school, with a dynamic and expanding collection and a full-time librarian.…

Discusses how two urban school principals used nontraditional administrative approaches as strategies for connecting home and school and for improving the literary achievement of their culturally diverse students. Describes how these principals made a personal and caring investment, served as strong instructional leaders, reconceptualized the real…