Looks at first graders enthusiastically writing their autobiographies. Describes an environmental and instructional model called the Center Activity Rotation System. Discusses its three phases and how children rotate through seven centers in the classroom, which allows for a variety of grouping patterns that invite children to work on skills as…

Examines the creation of process drama and writing experiences in a second/third-grade classroom. Describes how the classroom teacher used process drama (involving students in imaginary, unscripted, and spontaneous scenes) as a context for learning. Notes how process drama provided a context for content area instruction along with writing…

Describes how "motif-units" undermine the potential benefits of integrated thematic instruction. Suggests replacing the term "thematic unit" with the concept of "interdisciplinary outline," which focus on meaningful content, authentic activities, students' needs, teacher mediation, and a variety of resources. Shows how one fourth-grade teacher…

Outlines the clearest case of "de-skilling" to be found in education: the situation in California, where legislators and businessmen decide exactly how and with what methods and materials reading is to be taught, exactly what professional development activities are sanctioned and which shall not be mentioned, with this stamping out of outlawed…

Outlines evidence regarding adolescents' reading abilities and dispositions toward reading. Shows how current practices in middle school reading instruction constitute a mismatch with these young readers. Suggests teachers should: focus on independent reading, provide access to varied reading materials, approach reading instruction as a…

Discusses materials that help primary-grade students develop a richer supply of words: books, audiotapes, and magnetic poetry kits for teachers and/or for students. (SR)

Describes how published basal reading programs can be adapted to provide guided reading instruction in K-2 classrooms where large numbers of books are not available but basal stories are accessible. Describes and presents results from a project to assign levels of difficulty to stories in five nationally published basal reading programs. (SR)

Describes several types of resources on the Internet for children's literature that may be used to support interdisciplinary instruction: central sites, teacher-created children's literature projects, author web sites, Internet-posted lesson plans, and electronic mailing lists. (SR)

Presents brief descriptions of 32 children's books (published in 1999) that promote discussion of compelling characters, concerns of children, familiar stories, text and illustration with others, and tough choices. (SR)

Presents a position statement of the International Reading Association arguing that all schools (elementary, middle, and high schools) should include a qualified reading specialist as a core member of the educational team. Discusses why reading specialists are needed; what they do; their roles in instruction, assessment, and leadership; and the…

Argues that pursuing the nonexistent "perfect method" for teaching reading to all children distracts from the real key to improving reading instruction: developing teachers who know a variety of methods and approaches and thoughtfully orchestrate them according to their students' needs. Suggests what teachers, policy makers, researchers, and…

Compares writing an article to the steps in a lesson plan, discussing 7 components of lesson plans and arguing that the same steps can be used to produce a well-written article. (SR)

Describes "Character Interviews," a class activity that guides children, especially reluctant readers, to the meaning of a story through a thoughtful understanding of character as they consider a character's emotions and motives, to respond to a question as that character would. Describes the interview process. Offers sample interviews and…

Describes class activities that combine reading-prediction strategies with various graphs that quantify and make visual representations of those predictions, strengthening both reading and mathematical knowledge. Describes learning about whole numbers (picto/bar graphs), multiples (bar graphs), fractions (pie graphs), and percents (pie graphs).…

Examines an exchange between the author's eighth-grade daughter and her teacher (regarding a writing assignment on the phrase "responsibility is freedom"). Discusses the political elements of reading found therein. Examines implications of these elements for the daughter, the teacher, the parent, and the school district. (SR)