Articles from A-Z

Developing Academic Language: Got Words?

By: E. Sutton Flynt and William G. Brozo (2008)

Concerns about how to build academic vocabulary and weave its instruction into curricula are common among classroom teachers. This article reviews the research, and offers some practical suggestions for teachers.

Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development

By: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2008)

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers these age-appropriate ways that parents can engage their young children in ways that will help children develop speech and language abilities.

Differentiation Tips for Parents

By: Ann-Marie Foucault (2008)

What is differentiated instruction and how can it help your child? This article helps parents understand and support differentiation in the classroom.

Pre-K Across the Country

By: Pre-K Now (2008)

The state of pre-kindergarten varies across the country. This national snapshot is a good starting point for understanding what's happening in pre-K right now.

What Is High Quality?

By: Pre-K Now (2008)

When you walk into a high-quality pre-K classroom you immediately see learning occurring. The following elements are critical to providing the sense of purpose, organization, and excitement that creates the best results for children.

Pre-K and Latinos

By: Pre-K Now (2008)

Latino children make up the largest and most rapidly growing racial/ethnic minority population in the U.S. Find out how pre-K programs can play a key role in helping these children in school readiness and educational achievement.

A Quick Guide to Selecting Great Informational Books for Young Children

By: Kathy E. Stephens (2008)

Exposing children to a variety of informational text will stimulate development of background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. In this article, take an imaginary trip to a children's museum and learn how to choose quality, high-interest informational books for young readers.

Bright Ideas for Back-to-School Night…and Beyond

By: Reading Rockets (2008)

Who's Who in Your Child's School

By: Reading Rockets (2008)

There are many people at your child's school who are there to help your child learn, grow socially and emotionally, and navigate the school environment. Here's a selected list of who's who at your school: the teaching and administrative staff as well as organizations at the district level. You might want to keep this list handy all year long.

Summer Learning, Side-by-Side

By: Reading Rockets (2008)

Taking a Closer Look: My Child's Academic Success

By: U.S Department of Education (2008)

The U.S. Education Department provides these tips for parents about how to be involved in your child's school, and what to do if problems arise.

Organizing for Effective Reading Instruction

By: Jill Slack (2008)

To address the wide range of individual student variances and needs, reading instruction within one classroom must be data-informed and call on small group instruction and flexible grouping practices. This article delineates routines and procedures to help teachers organize their classroom environment and reading instruction to positively affect student achievement and meet the needs of diverse learners.

Supporting a School-Wide Reading Initiative with Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

By: Stan Paine (2008)

How can school leaders support school-wide reading initiatives? Here are keys to leading the way in the areas of reading curriculum, instruction, assessment, and motivation.

Creating Podcasts with Your Students

By: Tony Vincent (2008)

Creating podcasts in the classroom has many educational benefits, including strengthening skills in research, writing, and collaboration — and podcasting is easy to do. This article walks you through the steps of preproduction, recording, postproduction, and publishing.

What Does the Research Tell Us About Teacher Leadership?

By: The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement (2008)

This research brief from the Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement looks at what research exists, and what it says about drawing on the skills of experienced teachers to facilitate school improvement.

Having Your Child Tested for Learning Disabilities Outside of School

By: Reading Rockets (2008)

Children who struggle with reading often need extra help. This help usually comes from the school, but some parents choose to look outside of the school for professionals who can assess, diagnose, tutor, or provide other education services. The following article provides information on how to find the right person for your child.

Documenting Communication with the School About Special Services

By: Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright (2008)

When dealing with a bureaucracy, and school districts are bureaucracies, you need to keep detailed records. Logs, journals, and calendars provide answers and support memories and testimonies. This article provides examples of how to keep a paper trail.

Afterschool Fosters Success in School

By: Afterschool Alliance (2008)

This brief describes how afterschool programs can contribute to student success by helping children's social and emotional development, avoidance of risky behaviors, improved school attendance, engagement in learning, and improved test scores and grades.

Honoring Children's Rights to Excellent Reading Instruction

By: International Reading Association (2008)

The International Reading Association's position is that every child has a right to receive the best possible reading instruction, and has a set of 10 principles to help provide excellent reading instruction.

The Role of Fathers in Their Child's Literacy Development (Pre-K)

By: Reading Rockets (2008)