The concept of inertia--the property by which a body in motion tends to remain in motion, and a body at rest tends to remain at rest--is analogous to a situation that occurs in reading. Some students, despite being able to read, choose not to read when other options are available. In terms of inertia, these students are at rest and tend to remain…

Compiled from the reading lists of 60 exemplary schools, this "summertime" reading list provides titles of tried-and-true works published in or before 1960 which appeared on at least five of the school reading lists. Selections are divided according to grade level. The list offers over 100 book or series of titles recommended for…

The two terms reading problems and learning disabilities are not synonymous. Nevertheless, an increasing number of children who have reading problems are being labeled as learning disabled. Given the growing numbers of children failing to become competent readers, the fact that more and more of these children are being identified and treated as…

A study compared the listening retention of third grade pupils when a literature passage was presented via the teacher showing a film, showing a sound filmstrip, and reading from a book. The words and pictures in each presentation of a children's fantasy story were identical in each case. Subjects were 30 randomly selected pupils in each of the 20…

Based on Vygotsky's notion of the zone of proximal development, this study aimed to determine the extent to which parents' teaching of children become less directive as a function of children's age and communicative status and to describe relations between parents' interaction styles and children's verbal I.Q. One hundred and twenty families…

Intended to help educators explain an instructional program to parents, this document presents and discusses the following ten statements reflecting traditional views about teaching reading: (1) Reading is a simple, passive mental process. (2) An efficient reader pronounces every word in the passage. (3) When children come to an unfamiliar word,…

As a follow-up of an earlier study indicating that reading aloud to reading methods students influenced them to use children's literature in their teaching, a study investigated (1) the effects of reading aloud in a methods class to students who also read to children regularly during the same semester, and (2) whether the potentially greater…

Offered in response to the broad appeal of Charles Dickens's performance career to various disciplines, this annotated bibliography lists 40 resources concerned with Dickens's success as a performer interpreting his literary works. The resources are categorized under books, theses and dissertations, articles in scholarly journals, nineteenth…

Enumerates the benefits for young children of interactive reading--that which involves the reader and the listener in an active, shared experience. Furnishes the titles of several children's books appropriate for the practice of interactive reading in the classroom. (NKA)

Analyzes two case studies of children who seem to have learned to read before enrolling in school. Examines common factors in their home environments, and suggests it is important for teachers to take into account the reading experience each child brings to school. (RS)

To determine which of four modes of reading (oral reading to an audience, oral reading to oneself, silent reading, silent reading while listening) best facilitated reading comprehension, 48 subjects read a passage in each of the modes and answered post comprehension questions. Results supported equivalent comprehension following silent and oral…

Folklore offers a multitude of instructional possibilities for the elementary classroom. Students learn about other cultures, develop their imaginations, explore customs, discuss common problems, and heighten their sense of language. Several folktales and classroom resources are offered for teacher use. (DF)

This document is comprised of the 30 issues of learning guides for parents and family members providing suggestions regarding activities for young children. Each learning guide is organized similarly and contains: (1) a message for family members who care for young children; (2) suggested fun-learning activities using items found at home to help…

Discovering the truth of personal experience inside a poem engenders a bond of community. This collection of poems was written to honor literacy educators for all they do. The book presents poems about literacy teaching and learning in a collection of honesty and wit that aims to touch and inspire educators at all grade levels. For those in higher…

By encouraging, supporting, and nurturing a young child's development, parents can make their child's first learning experiences pleasant and fruitful. As the child's most important teacher, parents can help their children make a smooth transition from home to school. If parents trust their instincts, remain patient, and provide plenty of…