This forum article is a response to the article by Alandeom W. Oliveira, Patterson Rogers, Cassie F. Quigley, Denis Sambursky, Kimberly Barss, and Seema Rivera, The article explores agency from the perspective of both personal action and an understanding of causality within environmental systems, and it explores environmental read-alouds as…

In these days of increased testing and continued failure of inner-city and poor rural schools to meet the grade, it is becoming more and more necessary to turn to the public library to help students reach the ever-increasing goals being set for them. It seems somewhat unfair to hold the schools solely responsible for continued failure when the…

The author, a teacher at Roosevelt Junior High/Middle School in Eugene, Oregon, has created and taught a variety of elective classes. Each incorporated reading, writing skills, oral presentations, research reports, and specific educational goals. Of these classes, Storytelling became his favorite, because those who became tellers learn skills they…

In this article, the author relates how he had found solace and diversion in reading aloud while caring for his father who was undergoing chemotherapy. One particular incident left him completely immersed in reading that he did not noticed his father had been awakened from a deep sleep. From those experiences, the author observes how engagement in…

Presents an informal dialogue on teaching poetry in diverse settings. Shares teachers' success stories in teaching poetry. Notes basic principles--students must write poetry, hear poetry read aloud, and be aware of how people of other cultures express their feelings. (RS)

Makes a case for asking secondary students to read their compositions aloud to their peers. Reviews techniques that may be taught to prepare students for public reading and listening. Describes a program in which high school students write custom-made stories for individual elementary school students. (TB)

Gives an account of how one English teacher circumvented a principal's decision against purchasing a controversial novel, S. E. Hinton's "The Outsiders." Describes a teacher's power to close the class door and read a forbidden book aloud, chapter by chapter, to the students. (HB)

Suggests that illustrations can serve as invitations to enjoy and to ponder the images in poetry. Notes that, when poetry is read aloud to children, they should also have the opportunity to view and discuss the accompanying illustrations. Discusses how a variety of poetry books for children incorporate illustrations. (RS)

One of the best gifts one can give to children is a lifelong love of reading, and that begins by reading out loud to them every day. It is the single most important thing one can do to help build literacy skills. This article presents some guidelines to help make reading time in the classroom a richer experience.

Notes that two texts were being read simultaneously as a teacher educator read aloud to other teachers in a summer seminar--Cynthia Rylant's "Missing May" and the experience of reading "Missing May." Notes that the teachers made meaning from both texts, working together to shape the teachers into a community because they had…

Discusses various issues concerning reading literature in the elementary classroom, under the following section heads: "Adding to Your Alphabet,""Working with the Transitional Reader,""Reading Aloud to the Very Young,""Leading to Lively Conversation," and "Enriching the Teaching of Science." (TB)

Discusses how rereading stories to young children enhances their emergent literacy skills. Explores the benefits of reading stories to children, the impact of rereading, and a method of systematic rereading in the Head Start classroom to improve children's language and recall skills and to increase their attention span. (KB)

Examines approaches and structures that students and teachers may use to explore connections between poetry and jazz. Suggests specific techniques for intermingling the two. Looks at the relationship between the two in terms of "mood,""program," and "allusion." Provides examples of paired pieces and marked-up poetry texts. (TB)

Argues that it is possible for stories to both entertain the reader and teach reading techniques. Suggests that the apprentice approach to reading instruction, using good stories and with judicious intervention by teachers, can be rigorous. (MG)

Describes a schoolwide project designed to enhance independent reading at home and at school. Provides a description of the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the project. Offers suggestions for others who may have an interest in the initiative or who may wish to replicate the project. (MG)