Fourth graders around the country face new, high-stakes standardized tests, drawing increased attention to the need for effective literacy instruction in the upper elementary grades. This book goes beyond "political catch phrases" to examine what actually works in the fourth-grade classroom. The book offers a view of the techniques and strategies good teachers use to engage students, help them develop as thoughtful readers and writers, and bolster self-directed learning and literate conversation. Chapters in the book are: (1) Teaching Fourth Grade in the 21st Century; (2) What Do We Know about Effective Fourth-Grade Teachers?; (3) "Inquiry and a Good Conversation: 'I Learn a Lot from Them'" (Peter H. Johnston and Joan Backer); (4) "'Responsibility and Respect for Themselves and for Whatever It Is They're Doing': Learning to Be Literate" (Gay Ivey); (5) "'Focus on the Real and Make Sure It Connects to Kids' Lives" (Ruth Wharton-McDonald and June Williamson); (6) "'We Learn a Lot from Each Other': Collaboration and Community in a Bilingual Classroom" (Jenni Pollack Day); (7) "A Caring, Responsible Learning Community" (Peter H. Johnston and Mary Ellen Quinlan); (8) "I Want Students Who Are Thinkers" (Peter H. Johnston; Tracy Bennett; John Cronin); (9) Integrated Instruction in Exemplary Fourth-Grade Classrooms; (10) Literate Achievements in Fourth Grade; (11) The Nature of Fourth-Grade Teaching; and "Shifting the Focus of the Reading Debate: A Cautionary Afterword" (Gerald G. Duffy). An appendix discusses achievement growth on standardized reading tests. Cites 63 children's publications. (Contains approximately 200 references.) (NKA)