"This widely adopted text and K-8 practitioner resource demonstrates how successful literacy teachers combine explicit skills instruction with an emphasis on reading for meaning. Distinguished researcher Richard L. Allington builds on the late Michael Pressley's work to explain the theories and findings that guide balanced teaching and illustrate what exemplary lessons look like in action. Detailed examples offer a window into highly motivating classrooms around the country. Comprehensive in scope, the book discusses specific ways to build word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, especially for readers who are struggling. New to This Edition *Updated throughout to reflect important recent research advances. *Chapter summing up the past century's reading debates and the growing acceptance of balanced teaching. *New and revised vignettes of exemplary teachers. Subject Areas/Key Words: balanced instruction, classrooms, comprehension, decoding, elementary reading methods, engagement, exemplary teachers, explicit instruction, fluency, literacy, meaning, motivation, primary grades, reading instruction, skills, strategies, struggling readers, teaching, vocabulary, whole language, word recognition Audience: Teacher educators and graduate students; reading and literacy specialists; K-8 classroom teachers. Serves as a text in such courses as Reading Methods, Elementary Literacy Instruction, Reading Diagnosis and Instruction, and Psychology of Reading. "--

Based on research from the National Reading Research Center (NRRC) at the Universities of Georgia and Maryland, this issue presents the contributors' sythesized work on reading motivation and engagement. Articles are devoted to the following topics: * the general motivation constructs related to reading; * home influences on reading motivation; * readers' responses to different types of text; * influences of classroom contexts; and * types of assessment on children's motivation.

The newborn is amazingly equipped to acquire language and literacy'these early years are the foundation upon which later learning is built. Drawing on current research, the authors of Learning to Read the World examine the elements of beginning language and literacy and look at how families, programs, and communities can encourage beginning language and literacy in infants and toddlers.

Current research increasingly highlights the role of early literacy in young children's development--and facilitates the growth of practices and policies that promote success among diverse learners. The Handbook of Early Literacy Research presents cutting-edge knowledge on all aspects of literacy learning in the preschool years. Volume 1 covers such essential topics as major theories of early literacy; writing development; understanding learning disabilities, including early intervention approaches; cultural and socioeconomic contexts of literacy development; and tutoring programs and other special intervention efforts.