Student motivation is a critical element of engagement, learning, and achievement. With this in mind, teachers are particularly interested in motivating their students to read. However, getting students to do so can be a difficult task, especially if they lack confidence in choosing personally interesting books. We advocate for carefully nurturing…

As instructors of preservice teachers both researchers have spent time in classrooms observing the reading block. Teacher read-alouds were observed and a disconcerting occurrence became apparent to both researchers independently. Teachers took two seemingly dissimilar approaches to the practice of read-alouds. Teachers observed, either implemented…

In the present study, it was aimed to explore effects of repeated reading fluency intervention with performance based feedback on a student with reading difficulty. In the research, it was studied with a student having reading difficulties determined prior to intervention. During the intervention which lasted 38 hours, the activities including…

Teachers can use literature written for the young adolescent as a powerful tool for establishing and enhancing the community in the classroom that is arguably a necessity for learning to occur. In order for the young adolescent to be successful in the school classroom, a shared sense of community must exist. The students must feel connected to,…

In the present study, it was aimed to explore effects of repeated reading fluency intervention with performance based feedback on a student with reading difficulty. In the research, it was studied with a student having reading difficulties determined prior to intervention. During the intervention which lasted 38 hours, the activities including…

Shared reading is a common practice in preschool classrooms and is purported to develop oral language, print concepts, and listening comprehension. The actual practice of reading aloud differed greatly among observed classrooms resulting in variations in potential positive effects. This study examines the potential effects of professional…

Two university professors and 11 urban school faculty collaborated on a professional development (PD) effort focused on critical literacy to explore literacy practices aimed to reshape definitions of literacy that involved questioning power relationships concerning the environment and social justice. We examined the journey of a veteran teacher,…

The purpose of this observation case study was to understand pre-school and kindergarten teachers' perceptions of what "distinguishing the characteristics of print" means and to identify strategies pre-school and kindergarten teachers employ to assist young children in learning to distinguish the characteristics. This study used…

This case study explores seventh grade students' experiences with writing and performing poetry. Teacher and student interviews along with class observations provide insight into how the teacher and students viewed spoken word poetry and identity. The researcher recommends practices for the teaching of critical literacy using spoken word and…

Studies indicate thoughtfully planned chants integrated with shared book reading help young children remember concepts and vocabulary they hear in literature, capture children's imagination, develop their rhyming acuity, and background knowledge, and increase their sense of story structure, understanding of story sequence, phonological awareness,…

Several authors have suggested that a teacher's ability to encourage a disposition to read may be linked to their personal reading habits and views of literacy. This study examined the relationship between elementary school teachers' reading habits, knowledge of children's literature, and their use of literacy best practices in the classroom. One…

Argues that children can be encouraged to develop a lifelong devotion to books through the act of adults reading aloud to children. Considers why this strategy works and outlines better applications of it. Concludes that reading aloud to children has many benefits, especially when used in a literature-based approach. (HB)

The goal of the family literacy workshop "Reading Theatre, Parents as Actors: Movie production in a Family Literacy Workshop" is to empower and motivate parents to learn various storytelling strategies through theatrical production experiences and apply them at home. This is a theory-based family literacy practice supported by McClelland's…

Contends that the basic reason for functional illiteracy is that as children, individuals did not develop the ability to meet the challenges required for reading and writing and that children can develop the ability to meet these challenges by having parents read to them at an early age. (FL)

Argues that reading aloud by students is a useful and necessary skill. Discusses the various purposes, types, and amounts of oral reading needed for effective reading instruction in the elementary classroom. (MG)