Bringing together information elementary school teachers need to make balanced literacy instruction a reality, this book presents more than 90 short articles designed to be read in a brief period of time and suitable for use in after-school workshops. It presents ideas and instructional approaches teachers have found most valuable and effective in improving literacy instruction and students' achievement. This second edition expands the treatment on controversial issues in reading instruction: beginning reading, and standards-based assessment. By "balanced literacy instruction," the book means providing students with systematic, explicit instruction on skills and strategies in the context of authentic, meaningful activities. Chapters in the book are: (1) Perspectives; (2) Overview of the Readers' Workshop; (3) Structuring the Readers' Workshop; (4) Teacher-Directed Activities in the Readers' Workshop; (5) Student-Directed Activities in the Readers' Workshop; (6) Overview of the Writers' Workshop; (7) Structuring the Writers' Workshop; (8) Teacher-Directed Activities in the Writers' Workshop; (9) Student-Directed Activities in the Writers' Workshop; (10) Overview of Assessment and Evaluation; (11) Evaluating Progress; and (12) Keeping It Going. (RS)