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EduRef Lesson Plans:

* Reading
Lesson plans written by education students and teachers and submitted to AskERIC for inclusion on our website.
http://eduref.org/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Language_Arts/Reading
 

Archived Responses:

* Do you have any research on how parents reading to kids can make them better readers?
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printresponses.cgi/Virtual/Qa/archives/Subjects/Language_Arts/Reading/parent.html

* Do you have any information about the Accelerated Reader program?
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printresponses.cgi/Virtual/Qa/archives/Subjects/Language_Arts/Reading/accelerated.html

* Where can I find examples of summer reading lists and/or suggestions for good books sorted by grade level?
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printresponses.cgi/Virtual/Qa/archives/Subjects/Language_Arts/Reading/summerread.html

* What can I do to help my child become a successful reader?
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printresponses.cgi/Virtual/Qa/archives/Subjects/Language_Arts/Reading/parentsread.html

* Do you have information on effective practices for teaching reading?
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printresponses.cgi/Virtual/Qa/archives/Subjects/Language_Arts/Reading/reading.html

* Can you give me information on the phonics v. whole language debate?
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printresponses.cgi/Virtual/Qa/archives/Subjects/Language_Arts/Phonics/phonicsvwl.html
 

Internet Sites:

* International Comparisons in Fourth-Grade Reading Literacy: Findings from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) of 2001
This report defines reading literacy for fourth-graders, highlights the performance and distribution of fourth-graders relative to fourth-graders in other countries, and illustrates, through international benchmarking, the performance of assessed students.
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2003073

* Minority View: Teaching Children to Read
A member of the National Reading Panel exposes some of the limitations of the NRP report, Teaching Children to Read.
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/nrp/minorityView.pdf

* Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to Read
Presents the findings of the NRP, created by the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and charged with the task of assessing the status of research-based knowledge, including the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching children to read.
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/nrp/smallbook.htm

* Ten Myths of Reading Instruction
It has long been argued that learning to read, like learning to understand spoken language, is a natural phenomenon. In this article, Sebastian Wren details this, and other, common myths of reading instruction.
http://www.sedl.org/reading/topics/myths.html

* Power4Kids
The Power4Kids Initiative is an independent research study designed to demonstrate that highly effective, remedial reading programs will teach all--but a small fraction of--children to read in our public classes.
http://www.haan4kids.org/power4kids/

* What Evidence Says About Reading Recovery
Report published by the Reading Recovery Council of North America.
http://www.readingrecovery.org./pdfs/WhatEvidenceSaysFinalfinal.pdf

* The Partnership for Reading
Supported in part by the National Institute for Literacy, this site offers access to a database of research abstracts related to reading education. Also included are lists of recommended resources, and answers to frequently asked questions about reading instruction.
http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/

* The Nation's Report Card - Reading
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) regularly reports to the public on the educational progress of students in grades 4, 8, and 12. This site includes information from the reading assessments done in 2000 and 1998.
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/reading/

* The Compact for Reading & School-Home Links
"The Compact for Reading Guide offers tips on creating community and family-school partnerships with the purpose of improving children's reading. The School-Home Links Reading Kits are a collection of research-based activities designed to help families reinforce the reading and language arts skills that their children are learning at school." Kits are designed for K-3 students.
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/CompactforReading/

* Standards for Reading Professionals
These standards answer the question, "What should new reading professionals know and be able to do?" Developed by the Professional Standards and Ethics Committee of the International Reading Association, they provide the criteria for developing and evlauating programs for reading professionals. This includes programs for classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, teacher educators, reading specialists and school administrators. This edition is a revision of the previous 1998 standards.
http://www.reading.org/advocacy/standards/standards03_revised/index.html

* Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children
This report provides an overview of children with reading difficulties and presents strategies for prevention and intervention. Produced by the Committee on the Prevention of Reading Difficulties in Young Children.
http://bob.nap.edu/html/prdyc/index.html

* Reading for Understanding: Towards an R&D Program in Reading Comprehension
"The RAND Reading Study Group (RRSG) has prepared an initial draft report, which sets forth a framework for a program of research in reading comprehension." The report is available in pdf.
http://www.rand.org/multi/achievementforall/reading/

* Effective Teachers of Literacy: Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices
This article reports the results of research into the characteristics of teachers who could be shown to be effective in teaching literacy to elementary school students. The findings are based on a close study of a sample of teachers whose students make effective learning gains in literacy and of a sample of teachers who were less effective in literacy teaching. From the March 22, 1999 issue of International Electronic Journal For Leadership in Learning.
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~iejll/volume3/wray.html

* Building A Powerful Reading Program: From Research to Practice
This document lays out the current research base along with proven practices for effective literacy instruction, particularly in the early grades.
http://www.csus.edu/ier/reading.html

* What Does Research Say About Reading?
Discussion of recent findings regarding cognitive science and reading.
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/stw_esys/str_read.htm

* Topics in Early Reading Coherence
Short papers on topics in early reading from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
http://www.sedl.org/reading/topics.html

* Starting Out Right: A Guide to Promoting Children's Success in Reading
Offers parents, teachers, and child care providers practical suggestions and sample activities for helping young children learn to read.
http://bob.nap.edu/html/sor/

* A Guide for Parents: How Do I Know a Good Early Reading Program When I See One?
Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, February 26, 2001
http://www.ed.gov/parents/read/resources/goodprogram.html

* Helping Your Child Become a Reader
Part of a series aimed at helping families participate in their children's learning. It updates Helping Your Child Learn to Read, published in 1993 and reprinted in 1997.
http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/reader/index.html

* Teaching Reading: A Balanced, Comprehensive Approach to Teaching Reading in Pre kindergarten through Grade Three
This California Department of Education advisory is composed of two parts: the Reading Program, and Instructional Guidance and Support. The first focuses on instruction, including skills, diagnosis, assessment, and early intervention strategies. The second discusses "the planning necessary to support classroom implementation."
http://goldmine.cde.ca.gov/cilbranch/teachrd.htm

* Illinois Early Learning Project
"The Web site offers printable Tip Sheets for caregivers and parents, Frequently Asked Questions (and their responses), a statewide calendar of events for parents and caregivers, an easy-to-use database of links to the best of the Web on topics of high interest, and Online Chats."
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/

* Addressing the Literacy Needs of Emergent and Early Readers
Discusses children's literacy development and how parents and teachers can support young learners. This information is provided by the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/reading/li100.htm

* Balanced Reading Instruction
Provides an overview of balanced reading instruction and its benefits, and includes a listing of additional print and electronic resources. This information is provided by the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/timely/britoc.htm

* Reading Online
An electronic journal of the International Reading Association.
http://www.readingonline.org/

* Phonics and Whole Language
This hot topic page from Education Week includes links to past articles and a bibliography of background reading materials.
http://www.edweek.org/context/topics/issuespage.cfm?id=14

* Reading Assessment Database for Grades K-2
This database describes in detail over 140 reading assessment tools used to test students in Pre-K to grade 3. Detailed information about the subtests for each assessment gives insights into what reading skills are measured and how. Details of test administration procedures are provided such as the language of the test materials, whether the test can be given in a group setting, and the amount of time that should be allotted for test administration.
http://www.sedl.org/reading/rad/

* America Reads Challenge Resource Kit
This kit can help your community create an after-school or summer tutoring project to make sure that *all* children in your community learn to read well independently by the end of 3rd grade.
http://ed.gov/inits/americareads/

* Not "either/or" but "both/and":  Phonics and Whole Language
by John Holdren, Director of Research and Communications.  Core Knowledge Foundation from Common Knowledge, Volume 8, No. 3, Summer 1995.
Discussion of the phonics/whole language debate advocating the use of both approaches.
http://www.cstone.net/users/core/CKproto2/about/nwsltr/PhonicsNwsltr.htm

* The Best of Both Worlds
by Karen Diegmueller.  Education Week on the Web, March 20, 1996.
Discussion of the phonics/whole language debate.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/vol-15/26read.h15

* The ERIC Review: The Developmental Path to Reading (Summer 2000)
This issue of the ERIC Review focuses on the developmental path that children typically take when learning to read. Its purpose is to help parents take steps to ensure that their child will make the transition from learning to read to reading to learn by the end of third grade.
http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/reader/index.html

Online Communities:

* READPRO
Thoughtful analysis of issues facing reading professionals.
This online discussion forum is devoted to issues facing reading professionals of all types, including reading specialists, elementary or secondary classroom teachers, college professors, librarians or researchers.  The emphasis is on practical applications and problem solving, rather than lengthy philosophical debates.
To subscribe, address an e-mail message in the following manner:
To: readpro-subscribe@topica.com
Internet Site: http://www.indiana.edu/~disted/readpro/

* Remedial Reading Chatboard at Teachers.net
This forum is dedicated to teachers utilizing remedial reading programs in the classroom.
http://teachers.net/mentors/remedial_reading/

* Read Across America Chatboard at Teachers.net
This forum is dedicated to discussions of issues related to the NEA Read Across America Program.
http://teachers.net/mentors/raa/
 

Organizations:

* Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement
Generates & disseminates theoretical, empirical, & practical solutions to persistent problems in the learning & teaching of beginning reading.
University of Michigan School of Education
610 E University Ave., Rm 1600 SEB
Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1259
http://www.ciera.org/

* International Reading Association
800 Barksdale Road
P.O. Box 8139
Newark, DE  19714-8139
Tel:  (302) 731-1600
Fax:  (302) 731-1057
Email: pubinfo@reading.org
http://www.reading.org/

* The Partnership for Reading
National Institute for Literacy
1775 I Street NW, Suite 730
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 233-2025
Fax: (202) 233-2050
http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/pfr.html

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