In May 2016 an Invitational Symposium on the Reading for Understanding (RfU) Initiative was held in Alexandria, Virginia. Co-hosted by ETS and the Council of Chief State School Officers, the symposium brought together 160 state and local education leaders to examine the results of the RfU initiative. The goal of the U.S. Department of…

As numerous studies from 1906 on have confirmed, children lose ground in learning if they lack opportunities for building skills over the summer. Nonetheless, summer learning loss comes up but rarely in the national discussion of education reform. By the end of summer, students perform on average one month behind where they left off in the spring.…

Supports the argument that reading and writing ought to be taught together "so closely that students can't tell where one leaves off and the other begins" and seeks to persuade the reluctant teacher by (1) giving reasons for interweaving composition and literature seamlessly, and (2) outlining one procedure for doing so. (NH)

An overview of the Essential Skills Program at the National Institute of Education is presented in this paper. The paper is divided into three parts. In outline form, the first part of the paper describes the history of the program since its formation in December 1973. Also included in the first part is a short discussion of a number of the major…

Intended for reading teachers, supervisors, and administrators, this guide can be used to develop a parental involvement program. The book first presents a preprogram survey, an informal assessment of attitudes and skills that are important in parent programs. Chapter 1 contains the parent reading engagement profile, which includes guidelines and…

A functional reading program, as distinct from the standard middle school reading program, specifically ensures that all students will acquire the reading skills necessary for survival in our society. Survival reading behaviors to be achieved include the ability to read labels on packages, to locate references in a newspaper, or to translate…

A discussion of the development, final content, and uses of fifteen commercial reading programs is presented. (MKM)

Reports on a teacher survey designed to (1) determine the extent to which reading instruction is being offered beyond the reading classroom and (2) explain why some programs fail and some succeed. Suggests four steps to follow to develop a successful program. (NH)

The Swedish Basic Skills in a Long Term Perspective research project, which is described in this paper, was prompted by the belief that only a long-term perspective could reveal significant changes in schools and society at large. The general purpose of the described project is to endeavor, in historical and societal terms, to elucidate and…

The 26 papers in this compilation focus on integrated communication instruction. The papers are arranged into four categories: the integrated curriculum, theory and practice on integration, implementation of the integrated curriculum, and the integrated curriculum beyond the classroom. Specific topics discussed in the papers include (1) language…

Through a comprehensive review of various afterschool programs across the United States, this resource provides a practical overview of the research and best practices that can be easily adapted and applied in the development of highly effective afterschool programs. chapters focus on: (1) "Why Afterschool Programs?" (benefits, challenges, and…

The "Go Wild! Read!" theme of the Wisconsin summer library program lends itself to a multiplicity of ideas and programs. This manual brings together many ideas of practical value in the following areas: (1) planning and promoting programs; (2) decorating the library; (3) programs and activities; (4) giveaways and games; (5) performances…

In planning any new reading program, teachers should know exactly what they want to accomplish. This requires careful identification of overall goals and objectives. During this first step in planning, all of the teachers who will be affected by the program should submit lists of the reading skills that they believe are pertinent at their grade…

This book provides a theoretical basis for summer library reading programs, and provides hands-on knowledge about what really works in summer library programs, culled from the experience of librarians across the country. The book contains an introduction--"What Are Summer Library Reading Programs"--and five chapters. Chapter 1--"The…

Discusses survey results indicating that 63 percent of United States schools have not considered developing content reading programs even though teachers believe it would improve teaching and learning in their schools. Presents a number of factors that have been suggested as reasons why schools have not established content reading programs. (MG)