A mother of an adolescent daughter with blindness and learning disabilities focuses on how she helped her daughter improve reading and writing skills by finding a meaningful purpose for those skills in daily life. This article discusses early signs of learning problems, the learning environment, talking books, books in braille, technology,…

Weaves a Navajo elementary teacher's anecdotes from her own and her father's educational experiences with archival materials to provide a historical context for Navajo literacy. Discusses early written Navajo; the role of schools and churches in the expansion of written Navajo; and the advancement of Navajo linguistics during John Collier's…

Reviews and recommends a series of books using picture postcards to trace a geographical journey. The geographical regions include France, Mexico, Canada, Russia, and the United States. The books introduce young readers to different geographic locations and ways of life. (MJP)

Describes the instructional technology support program at Cornell University's Mann Library (New York) that integrates the print and digital libraries. Highlights include the gateway system, information literacy skills, geographic information systems, courseware, the instructional design laboratory, consulting service, delivering course materials…

Compares approaches to defining functional scientific literacy and helping students achieve it--the canonical approach focuses on literate individuals' knowledge, skills, and habits of mind; the sociocultural approach focuses on factors such as values, which affect participation in the community's activities. Offers a case study to show how these…

Implements a literature-based instructional intervention using a series of high interest, predictable trade books. Engages students in story reading supported by teacher modeling of fluent reading, repeated and choral reading of predictable text, and use of multiple cues in written language. Indicates students gained in reading fluency and…

Describes chat reference service to elementary and secondary school students at Baltimore County Public Library and Harford County Public Library (Maryland). Discusses funding; developing an audience and promoting the service; appropriate software; hours of service; technical issues; meeting student needs; relationships to curriculum; and teaching…

Describes the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program which helps school library media specialists and science and math teachers bring earth science, math, information literacy, information technology, and student inquiry into the classroom. Discusses use of the Internet to create a global network to study the…

Investigates the ways that backlash pedagogy, a centerpiece of educational reform, accepts substantial inequality as a neutral baseline for educational practice and reform and, simultaneously, enshrines the status quo. The analysis draws on several theoretical lenses (cultural-historical activity theory, critical race theory, and ethnographic…

Preliminary results from data on 146 Australian, 284 American, and 70 Norwegian preschool twins indicate reliable genetic influences on phonological awareness and memory and learning. Vocabulary, grammar, and morphology showed significant shared environment and negligible genetic effects. A print knowledge composite showed genetic and shared…

Describes a study to identify sociodemographic, academic, and attitudinal variables that differentiate between male and female and White and Hispanic community college students with different levels of academic preparation enrolled in mathematics and science courses. (DMM)

Premised on E.D. Hirsch's call for cultural literacy, argues that school curricula should include law-related courses to promote legal literacy. Contends law-related courses incorporate reading and critical thinking skills and teach citizenship responsibilities. Defines objectives and rationale of law-related courses. Includes list of law-related…

Analyzes economic and social costs of functional illiteracy in industrialized countries, highlighting Canada and the United States. Identifies the functionally illiterate and the illiteracy-poverty cycle. Estimates the cost of Canadian illiteracy is between $4.2 and $10.7 billion. Suggests measures for preventing adult illiteracy, including…

Analyzes literacy campaigns in developing countries since early postcolonial efforts. Sees the Experimental World Literacy Programme as a turning point, reflecting lessons learned from past failures. Identifies features of successful campaigns, including political will, resource mobilization, timing, decentralized implementation, realistic…

The whole language approach to literacy parallels the acquisition of oral language, which enables speech-language pathologists to assume leadership roles in such literacy programs. Aspects of whole language programs are discussed, including language, both oral and written; assessment and planning; service delivery; intervention; and the oral…