Education Commons^™

Writing For Comprehension, Randy Wallace, Cathy Pearman, Cindy Hail, Beth Hurst

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Many educators continue to treat reading and writing as separate subjects. In response to this observation, the authors offer four research-based writing strategies that teachers can use to improve student reading comprehension through writing. The writing strategies—About/Point, Cubing, Four Square Graphic Organizer, and Read, Respond, Revisit, Discuss—reinforce reading comprehension by helping students strengthen their skills at summarizing, thinking in-depth from multiple perspectives, activating and organizing numerous thoughts, and creating interest through meaningful social interactions.

Family Literacy: The Missing Link To School-Wide Literacy Efforts, Vicky Zygouris-Coe

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Everyone has a literacy component to their lives. Family literacy refers to the ways people learn and use literacy in their home and everyday lives. Many times there is a disconnect between family and school literacies. Schools do not have systematic ways of tapping into the wealth of knowledge families possess and linking that knowledge to school literacy efforts. This article provides a brief review of family literacy issues and perspectives. Sample family literacy programs are summarized and suggestions are given for strengthening the link between family and school through food, photos, family publications, journals, literacy events, and using parents …

The Classroom Library: A Place For Nonfiction, Nonfiction In Its Place, Terrel A. Young, Barbara Moss, Linda Cornwell

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This manuscript provides a rationale for classroom libraries and the need to include nonfiction with them. Guidelines for effective libraries, selecting nonfiction books, and strategies for promoting them are also shared.

What’S New In Children’S Literature? Engaging Readers Through Series Books, Barbara A. Ward, Terrell A. Young

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Although experts may debate the literary value of series books and bemoan readers’ reluctance to move away from familiar characters and settings, the fact remains that they often draw reluctant readers to the printed word. There is no evidence that reading series books ruins the literary health or moral fiber of readers (Tunnell & Jacobs, 2008). In fact, the opposite may happen since series books often promotes reading in reluctant readers. Time spent searching for something to read can be shortened, and long hours can be filled profitably with series reading since readers already know the types of books for …

An Examination Of Preservice Literacy Teachers’ Initial Attempts To Provide Instructional Scaffolding, Joyce E. Many, Donna L. Taylor, Yan Wang, Gertrude T. Sachs, Heidi Schreiber

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

In today’s diverse schools, meeting individual literacy needs of students is one of the most challenging aspects of teaching. Instructional scaffolding is a powerful tool that many literacy teachers use to meet the challenge. While the term denotes a wide array of strategies, most teachers use scaffolding in some form or another in their classrooms. Many consider it to be one of the most effective instructional procedures available (Cazden, 1992; Graves, Graves, & Braaten, 1996).

Reading Horizons Vol.48 No. 1

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizson volume 48, issue 1.

Dear Reading Horizons Readers, Karen F. Thomas, Allison L. Baer

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

No abstract provided.

Greek-Letter Membership And College Graduation: Does Race Matter?, Ronald E. Severtis Jr., C. Andre Christie-Mizell

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Research, utilizing a nationally representative sample of 3,712 Americans, revealed that Greek-letter membership increases the probability of college graduation more for African Americans than for European Americans. Conversely, father's education is a more robust predictor of educational outcomes for European Americans compared to their African American counterparts

A "Fond Farewell" To Yolanda Mihalko, Karen F. Thomas

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Note from Reading Horizons staff

Article Index

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Index of articles in volume 47.

From Reading Clinic To Reading Community, Deborah Ann Jensen, Jennifer Amy Tuten

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This paper discusses the shift from a clinic model to a community model for the practicum experience for literacy education graduate students. The traditional program for the remediation of struggling readers followed a deficit model. Therefore, the reading specialist would pull out the child from regular classroom instruction to isolate a reading problem using standardized assessments and then to remediate the problem with programmed instruction. While the shifts in the understanding of the reading process which occurred in the 1980s and 1990s influenced instruction and assessment and the role of the reading specialist, researchers have found that instruction of struggling …

Engaging Children With Useful Words: Vocabulary Instruction In A Third Grade Classroom, Lynn Cohen, Katherine Byrnes

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This action research project investigated 2 different instructional procedures used for third grade students' vocabulary acquisition. We researched read-aloud trade books containing targeted vocabulary words with daily direct word learning strategies and compared that to a traditional definitional approach with 12 bilingual and 4 monolingual children. Instruction was limited to 6 words each week for 4 consecutive weeks. Findings suggested that children used more targeted words in oral and written communications when provided literature and word learning strategies.

Effects Of Assisted-Repeated Reading On Students Of Varying Reading Ability: A Single-Subject Experimental Research Study, Jo-Ann Hapstak, Diane H. Tracey

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This study examined the effects of assisted-repeated reading on four first grade students whose reading ability varied (a special education student, a non-classified poor reader, an English Language Learner (ELL) student, and a general education student) to determine if an assisted repeated reading intervention is differentially effective for students of differing academic profiles. The students engaged in assisted-repeated reading two times a week for eight weeks. Each session lasted 10 to 15 minutes. A baseline was established for each student prior to the start of the intervention. Subsequently, initial and final readings were recorded at each session. The findings of …

What's New In Children's Books: Sizzling Summer Reading, Barbara A. Ward, Terrell A. Young

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

It's almost summer time, and the living seems so much easier than it does during the rest of the year. The pace changes, and so do our reading tastes. Summer is the time for refueling our engines, reaching for inspiration, and exploring the splendor of the wide world around us. In this column we offer a collection of books that seem perfectly suited to summer's schedule of traveling, spending time with family and friends, and honing our talents.

The following books were reviewed:
Taj Mahal by Caroline Arnold and Madeleine Comora, Ill. Rahal Bhaghan
An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna …

Poems, C. Glennon Rowell

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Three poems: The Joys of Books, Spelling Woes, Usage Woes

Author Index

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Index of authors for volume 47.

Outsiders-Within: Critical Race Theory, Graduate Education And Barriers To Professionalization, Carolann Daniel

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article uses the lens of critical race theory to examine the experiences of minority students in and outside of the social work education classroom. Research has not critically analyzed the structures, policies and practices of graduate education programs and how they influence the socialization experiences of students. Qualitative interviews with 15 African American and Latino students reveal that their experiences are often characterized by marginalization and conflict. They suggest that certain aspects of the professionalization process create and support forces that reproduce stratified social relations. These problematic relations have a negative impact on minority students threatening their persistence and …

Reading Horizons Vol. 47 No. 4

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 47 issue 4.

On The Horizon. What's New In Children's Books

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Look for a new feature starting with our March/April issue in Reading Horizons! This journal will be featuring "On the Horizon in Children's Literature." In each issue, Barbara A. Ward and Terrell A. Young, as the featured authors of this column, will bring a wealth of literary and literacy knowledge in their reviews of children's books.

Direct Instruction With Playful Skill Extensions: Action Research In Emergent Literacy Development, Jean M. Keaton, Barbara C. Palmer, Karen R. Nicholas, Vickie E. Lake

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Direct instruction teaching methods have been found to promote the acquisition of literacy in developing readers. Equally important, learning strategies that allow children to construct knowledge through active participation increase their motivation for reading and writing. This action research was designed to explore the effectiveness of direct instruction with playful extensions in developing emergent literacy in a kindergarten classroom. The intent of the project was to connect developmentally appropriate practices with direct instruction teaching. The systematic approach of Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) was followed using only the teacher directed lessons; playful extensions of the PALS lessons were integrated throughout …

Reading Advocacy: What Matters In Students', Parents', And Teachers' Lives, Karen F. Thomas

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

About the Michigan Alliance of Reading Professors

Teachers As Reflective Practitioners: Examining Teacher Stories Of Curricular Change In A 4th Grade Classroom, William P. Bintz, Jill Dillard

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This article describes findings from a classroom-based action research project conducted by two in-school teachers, a literacy coach and a 4'h grade teacher, implementing a new integrated literacy and social studies curriculum and the changes they made in curricular practices and beliefs over a three-year period of time. A university professor also served as an out-of-school researcher assisting with analyzing data, describing findings, and discussing implications. The project was based on the model of teacher as researcher asking two focused inquiry questions: 1) what can be learned about teaching by taking a reflective practitioner perspective as a way to think …

Reading Horizons Vol.47 No 3

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 47 issue 3.

Who's Reading And Why: Reading Habits Of Lst Grade Through Graduate Students, Deanne Camp

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The habit of reading develops over a period of time. This study explored reading habits across a wide range of students. An open-ended survey of reading habits involved 242 participants from grades 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, undergraduate non-education majors, undergraduate elementary majors, and graduate reading majors. As data were analyzed, themes emerged to categorize participant responses. Discussion of data offers suggestion to both teacher educators and classroom teachers about ways to develop and maintain the habit of reading.