Describes an early intervention literacy program which brings books, children, and parents together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. States that it provides low-income parents with the information, skills, and encouragement needed to promote the literacy development of their children. (PA)

Analyzes read-alouds of information books in a first-grade classroom. Finds that children's responses to the books and the connections they made among texts and between texts and other aspects of their lives shows that children's backgrounds are important factors in their literacy development. Notes the strength that diversity in children's…

Explains a reading and writing assignment called "Writing a Movie" in which students view a short film segment and write a script in which they describe the scene. Notes that this assignment uses films to develop fluency and helps students understand the reading and writing connections. Concludes that students learn to summarize a scene from film,…

Describes a program developed for public libraries that uses registered therapy dogs and their handlers to improve the literacy skills of elementary school children by having the dogs listen while the children read aloud. Relates experiences at various libraries that have tried the program and discusses positive results that increase children's…

The impact of home-based reading practices on young children's literacy development was examined, considering the types of comments made while reading as well as the affective quality of the reading interaction. Phonological awareness, orientation toward print, and story comprehension were assessed. Findings emphasize the importance of the…

Describes Supporting Literacy in the Classroom (SLIC), an early literacy program for classroom teachers that was developed in an urban school district. Discusses the components of the SLIC program: read alouds, shared reading, guided reading, and interactive writing. Reviews successful early literacy programs and describes classroom methods to…

Interviews Monica Edinger, a fourth-grade teacher who strives to foster a love of literature in her classroom by reading "Alice in Wonderland" aloud to her students. Describes the rest of this project, which includes a close study of the book's illustrators and culminates in a student-produced Toy Theater production of the book, which is…

Explores storybook reading aloud through a focus on the aspects of story listening and telling. Demonstrates that a story engagement is significantly distinctive from other communications. Considers how storybook reading aloud initiates a specific set of language abilities, a knowledge body and possibilities for application. (SG)

This article discusses interactive information book read-aloud, an instructional approach that supports both non-readers and non-fluent readers prior to the introduction of instruction in cognitive and comprehension strategies. Key components of the approach are presented, including interaction, information books, teacher awareness of text…

Explores how students (through an awareness of literary archetypes and journal writing) can use African stories to cross cultures, time, and continents, making connections between their worlds and the worlds of others. (MG)

This paper encourages teachers to read to older students with hearing impairments. Guidelines are offered for selecting appropriate books, planning and carrying out the reading activity, and developing follow-up activities to incorporate the reading into other aspects of the curriculum. A list of seven recommended books is included. (JDD)

Presents reading strategies and techniques that will bring about positive reading attitudes and instill confidence in reluctant readers. Argues that teachers who exhibit positive attitudes and expectations will see their students develop and grow. Provides several questions for a reading interest inventory. (RS)

Recognizing that preschool experience of hearing stories read aloud contributes significantly to children's subsequent success in learning to read at school, this paper explores the complex and powerful literacy learning that can develop from a certain style of whole class story reading to children whose home cultures would not otherwise give them…

Describes how natural curricular contexts enable a teacher to listen to her students read aloud and then incorporate the information into instructional planning. Discusses a variety of teaching methods, including shared personal reading, book conferences, reader selected miscues, teacher read-alouds, and newspapers as classroom texts. (RS)

Describes Books on Tape, an unabridged audiobook publisher, and its appeal to the library market. Discussion covers reading styles used on the tapes, the lack of celebrity readers, the story of the company's founding and development, its use of computerized customer tracking and networking, the availability of replacement tapes, and cassette cover…