This paper discusses implications of ability grouping in elementary reading instruction according to current research, and how such research can be applied to the classroom practice of "guided reading" within a balanced literacy program. The paper suggests that the "balanced literacy" approach from New Zealand is basically the…

This paper suggests an alternative approach to early childhood science education that considers contemporary trends in both literature and science. The whole language approach to picture books is recommended and this strategy is described in the four sections of this report. The sections provide information on the relationship between science…

The Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) represents a long-term effort by Stanford University to improve international and cross-cultural education in elementary and secondary schools. This volume of the elementary literature series focuses on the primary grades; utilizes primary source literature from Japan;…

Describes working with 14 Mexican English teachers for 2.5 years at an elementary school in Guadalajara to help them implement an effective whole language program. Describes how these teachers used models of rich language, familiar movies, drama creations, family stories, and their own artistic talents to enhance learning in their classrooms.…

A proposed research project is described in which two university-based researchers and four elementary school teachers will investigate problematic features of "whole language instruction" in monthly reflexive conversations. One hypothesis is that problems with whole language practice are indicative of a more broadly based cultural…

"Abra Cadabra," a new computer program for second-language learning for fourth- and fifth-grade students, is described that is based on the whole language approach to language acquisition. (two references) (LB)

This study examined, through classroom observations and teacher surveys, the instructional beliefs and practices in reading of second- and third-grade teachers in selected schools in the United States and Australia. Australian participants consisted of 16 second-grade and 11 third-grade teachers in New South Wales; American participants were 17…

Describes the "Global Method" of Celestin Freinet, a French educator whose teaching methods (similar to language experience, writing process approach, and whole language) are used by teachers in Europe. Offers excerpts of Freinet's ideas on democratic pedagogy, having children write their own books, teaching writing, moral civic…

Assesses the debate between the process writing/whole language approach to literacy education and genre-based writing instruction. Explains that the former stresses ownership and voice and the latter identifies and linguistically describes the genres used in school and proposes a curriculum model for teaching writing. (SK)

Three studies examined sources of learning by which children, very early in learning to read, formed correspondences between letters and phonemes when these were not explicitly taught in the whole-language instruction they received. Findings of these studies have implications for the question of how early in learning to read children are able to…

Describes one teacher's experience in using the whole-language approach to teach English as a second language to kindergartners in Lebanon.(Author/VWL)

Various word-recognition tasks were completed by 54 second-grade students from classrooms where reading instruction followed the whole-language approach or the phonics/skill-based approach. A task involving a cloze procedure favored the whole-language approach, but there were no other significant differences between groups. Contains 30 references.…

A case study examined the decision-making process that impelled a teacher to change her literacy instructional practices and the change process she went through when adopting new practices. The teacher (who has taught first grade for 5 years at an elementary school in a large Caribbean island school district) volunteered to try whole language…

Using folktales from around the world, this workshop paper presents a multicultural curriculum for kindergarten and first grades. A statement of purpose, the curriculum presents lists of recommended teaching resources, publishers and distributors of multicultural materials, organizations; a 12-item multicultural bibliography; and activities for…

This document is the official guide for teaching English Language Arts in the elementary schools of Canada's Northwest Territories. It reflects a student-centered, process-oriented, integrated and culture-based approach. It emphasizes teaching language (whether it be English or aboriginal) in meaningful, interactive contexts and evaluating…