In her previous books, "Literacy Work Stations and Practice with Purpose," Debbie Diller showed teachers how to productively occupy the "rest of the class" while meeting with small groups. Now Debbie turns her attention to the groups themselves and the teacher's role in small-group instruction. "Making the Most of Small Groups" grapples with…

Shows that the incorporation of mainstreaming in inservice education related to reading requires four things: a definition of mainstreaming, the need for teacher flexibility, the need for teacher cooperation, and the identification of relevant curriculum objectives. (RL)

The negative effects of long-term ability grouping has been discussed often in educational literature, and recent research has identified several areas of concern, including a need for more variety in intra-class instructional grouping. Whole language educators are apparently so dissatisfied with the traditional, rigid three-group plan that they…

Presents a bibliography of current professional articles on topics such as the open classroom, classroom organization, learning theory, motivation, the use of traditional teaching materials, and reading instruction. (MAI)

Reveals a clear relationship between teachers' aims and objectives and choice of class organization and that pupils taught in classes in which reading is heard in groups achieve higher reading standards than do those taught individually. Shows also the effects of time on the quality of instruction. (FL)

Observes a fifth grade classroom where students were heterogeneously grouped for reading to see how the teacher organized and managed this type of grouping. Examines the effect on students' reading. Includes a description of the teacher's plan and outlines factors contributing to the success of the plan based on observation and student reports.…

The concept of open or progressive education has come to mean that to learn one needs no discipline, no systematic organization, no planning. However, there is a middle, or at least another ground, between the ends of laissez faire and authoritarianism. It has to do with the structure of process. For example, the Key Vocabulary of Sylvia…

Describes how 18 teachers (in Wayland, Massachusetts), working with students at a variety of reading levels in third through sixth grades, taught reading via paperback books. (SW)

A workable plan to help social studies teachers develop the competencies they will need to teach students to read social studies materials in grades K through 12 is provided in this document. A directed reading lesson is included which suggests practical techniques for improving reading skills. A unit sample and some suggested techniques for…

An overview of the language experience approach and suggestions for implementing it at all levels of instruction are presented in this booklet. Based on the assumption that it is impossible to isolate reading instruction from other language functions, a multimethod approach is described which focuses on the linguistic, conceptual, and perceptual…

Reviews 11 recent books and materials on the subject of literacy development. Groups the reviews into the subjects of overall classroom organization, organizing around literature, organizing around writing, and instructional materials. Notes a greater availability of works designed for use in primary grades than for upper elementary grades. (SG)

Focusing on class organization, this publication reports on ideas that might improve reading skills by providing better opportunities for all children. The various articles deal with the use of reading consultants in classrooms as an alternative to "pull-out" reading programs, flexible grouping for individualized instruction, and reading…

This report presents a synthesis of a day-and-a-half interactive conference on research and development in reading attended by a group of reading specialists from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas representing their state departments of education. It includes the two presentations "A Sampling of Research Within Reach"…

Before they attempt to organize their classrooms to meet varying student needs, secondary teachers should establish a comprehensive framework for their instructional program, based on a diagnostic plan and on an instructional plan. Many different organizational strategies have been found successful by secondary teachers, both for teaching reading…

Describes a teacher's experiences in a multigrade intermediate grade mountain schoolhouse. Notes that teaching difficulties were overcome by (1) organizing time and contracting with students; (2) learning from students about what to teach; and (3) using language that invites and includes students. Explains how these techniques aid reading and…