U.S. Department of Education, First Book and Random House Children's Books Launch 2008 Summer Reading Initiative

U.S. Department of Education

May 09, 2008

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings; Wendy Bhagat, senior vice president, First Book; and Heidi Kilgras, editorial director, Random House Children's Books Tuesday announced the availability of free books through the 2008 Summer Reading Initiative. The initiative marks the first stage of a national distribution of over 850,000 free, new Random House children's books to schools, libraries and literacy organizations serving low-income youth across the country.

Learning Goes Into the Wild

The Denver Post

May 09, 2008

Many of the 950 or so schoolchildren who were bused up the Colorado National monument recently to take part in Junior Ranger Day have had few, if any, opportunities to explore wild places. To them, nature is a little scary, quite foreign, but a very cool novelty. Studies show that American children now spend an average of 30 minutes of unstructured time outdoors weekly but watch as much as three hours of television daily.

Opinion: Student Tests — and Teacher Grades

Wall Street Journal

May 09, 2008

In this opinion piece, John Merrow of the Wall Street Journal considers the use of student performance as the main measure by which teachers are judged.

Learning to Love Reading

The Daily Sentinel (TX)

May 09, 2008

The halls of Brooks–Quinn–Jones Elementary School in Nacogdoches, Texas were buzzing with excitement Thursday night, as Nacogdoches ISD elementary school students and parents gathered for the third annual "Summer Reading is REaD HOT" Family Literacy Night. The purpose of the event was to encourage parental involvement in dealing with literacy.

Book About Penguin Family with Two Fathers Tops List of 'Challenged Books'

International Herald Tribune (France)

May 08, 2008

And Tango Makes Three, a children's story about a family of penguins with two fathers, was the most "challenged" book in U.S. public schools and libraries for the second straight year, according to the American Library Association.

State to Require Teachers to Take Test on Reading

The Hartford Courant

May 08, 2008

Aspiring early childhood and elementary school teachers will have to prove they know how to teach reading on a test the State Board of Education has added to Connecticut's teacher certification requirements. The change, which was made Wednesday, comes amid worries about stagnating or declining student reading scores statewide and concerns that not all state teachers know the mechanics of teaching reading.

Parents Can Serve as Model for 'How Literacy Really Works'

The Joplin Globe (MO)

May 08, 2008

According to Dr. DiAnn Hunter with St. John's Regional Medical Center, medical professionals have determined that the spoken word develops parts of a child's brain beyond just the linguistic center. It also develops greater cognitive, auditory and visual skills. "We know that interaction enhances development," said Hunter. 'Like clay'

Gaston Teachers Share Ideas with North Carolina School

The Gadsden Times (AL)

May 08, 2008

Classified as a school in need of improvement, Gaston Elementary is exploring new ideas to help the school. An Internet search identified another school with similar demographics that was currently using the reading program that Gaston Elementary will adopt next school year. Staff set up a teleconference with White Plains Elementary in North Carolina to learn what has worked in helping children read.

Seattle Teacher Rejects State's Standardized Test

National Public Radio

May 07, 2008

A teacher in the Seattle School District is defying federal, state and district regulations by refusing to administer the Washington Assessment of Student Learning test. He believes the test is harmful to students, teachers, schools and families.

Pre–K Learning Benefits Children

Southeast Missourian

May 07, 2008

Children who can identify letters and sounds before kindergarten are 20 times more likely to read basic words by the end of kindergarten than children who don't know their letters or sounds, according to Pre–K Now, a Washington, D.C. advocacy group. Missouri's Cape Girardeau School District started a preschool program this school year hoping money paid now will contribute to later academic success.

Needy Connecticut Districts Face Cuts in School Reading Programs

Hartford Courant

May 07, 2008

Connecticut's neediest school districts are facing cuts in critical programs that help teach children to read because of a looming $20 million falloff in funding under the state's "do-nothing" budget. The Early Reading Success grants, which for the past decade have paid for reading coaches and extra positions to keep class sizes down, were included in planned state spending for 2007–08 but not for 2008–09 when the legislature approved a two-year budget plan last year.

Reading Tips From Kentucky's Cane Run Elementary

The Courier–Journal

May 07, 2008

Students of Cane Run Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky start learning even before school starts thanks to a literacy program launched last fall. Each morning, about 25 fourth– and fifth–graders read with and tutor first– and second-graders in the school's library.

Cal State Fullerton "Project Read" Helps Them up

The Daily Titan

May 07, 2008

Every Monday night, a group of California State University, Fullerton volunteers dedicate their time to strengthening the reading skills of underprivileged children at Project Read, a program focusing on promoting literacy among children living in a transitional home. The volunteers work at the Anaheim Interfaith Shelter, a transitional housing project providing assistance to families that are facing homelessness.

A Latino Institution Struggles to Stay Open

The Los Angeles Times

May 06, 2008

Despite its renown as one of the nation's largest Latino-themed bookstores, Librería Martinez, owned by the barber-turned-MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" winner, may be forced to close by year's end. Sales are down 50% from a year ago and bills are piling up. A new landlord, the Orange County High School of the Arts, which wants to use the store for classrooms, has given Martinez a year to find a new location.

Poetry Column: Joy Erupts Into Poetry Explosion, Promotes Literacy

The Evening Sun (PA)

May 06, 2008

Poetry Alive! is a national theater company that brings the dynamic performance of poetry to students from kindergarten through university levels. It also provides in-service for language arts educators to promote literacy for gifted and/or challenged kids who may be resistant to poetry or reading in general.

The Journey to Literacy: Priceless

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

May 06, 2008

Reading expert Kathleen Hayes, a former children's librarian and current editor of Highlight Hive Five magazine shares insights into helping emergent readers — children who are just starting to learn to read.

'Donuts With Dad' Draws Diverse Crowd

Hernando Today (FL)

May 06, 2008

More than 50 local fathers who took the afternoon off work to attend their child's kindergarten class. There they were taught practical math problems by their children, and then shared donuts and lemonade.

(Opinion) Teacher Opposed to Standardized Tests Reconsiders

National Public Radio (NPR)

May 06, 2008

In this radio report, teacher Chela Delgado explains that she once hated standardized tests and didn't want to make her students take them. But then she started listening to some of the children's parents. Her commentary reveals how families in under-resourced schools are pursuing what they see as best for their kids.

Reading First's Effectiveness Questioned By Test Results

News Hour (PBS)

May 05, 2008

The "Reading First" program aimed at improving elementary school reading, particularly for low-income children, reaches about 1,500,000 students in 5200 schools nationwide, but a new study from the Department of Education found students in the program are not reading any better than those we are not. Two educators debate the merits and pitfalls of the program's intent and execution on the NewsHour from PBS.

What Do Children Read? Hint: Harry Potter's Not No. 1

The Washington Post

May 05, 2008

Children have welcomed the Harry Potter books in recent years like free ice cream in the cafeteria, but the largest survey ever of youthful reading in the United States will reveal today that none of J.K. Rowling's phenomenally popular books has been able to dislodge the works of longtime favorites Dr. Seuss, E.B. White, Judy Blume, S.E. Hinton, and Harper Lee as the most read.

No Gains in Reading For Most Colorado Third-Graders

The Denver Post

May 05, 2008

Third-grade reading scores have barely budged over the years in Colorado, where almost a third of students cannot read at grade level, according to the latest release by the Colorado Department of Education. For the second year in a row, 71 percent of Colorado's third-graders were rated "proficient" or "advanced" on the Colorado Student Assessment Program test — meaning they are reading at or above grade level.

California's PSV "Volunteers in Literacy" Foster Love of Reading

Pacifica Tribune (Pacifica, California)

May 05, 2008

Research shows that television and computer screen time is replacing the printed word. This is a loss for adults, but a serious problem for young students learning to read and write. Pacifica School Volunteers (PSV) of Pacifica, California addresses these literacy concerns with their Volunteers in Literacy program. PSV places volunteers in classrooms who help struggling students conquer reading and writing. Their efforts culminate in the spring when PSV reaches out to community members throughout Pacifica to inspire a love of reading.

Comic Books Donated to Canadian Schools to Get More Boys Reading

The Hamilton Spectator (Ontario, Canada)

May 05, 2008

Big B Comics is donating 1,500 comic books to the Hamilton, Ontario District School Board to promote literacy for boys for Free Comic Book Day. The day is celebrated across North America at many comic book stores.

Study Questions 'No Child' Act's Reading Plan

The Washington Post

May 02, 2008

Students enrolled in a $6 billion federal reading program that is at the heart of the No Child Left Behind law are not reading any better than those who don't participate, according to a U.S. government report. The study released yesterday by the Department of Education's research arm found that students in schools that use Reading First, which provides grants to improve elementary school reading, scored about the same on comprehension tests as their peers who attended schools that did not receive program money.

Kansas Leads Push to Expand Pre-K Education

The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri)

May 02, 2008

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius wants more children from low-income families to have a chance at preschool and, based on the statistics, a better life. This year, she asked the Kansas Legislature to spend $27 million dollars more on early childhood learning. If Kansas lawmakers approve Sebelius' proposal, they would almost double the amount the state spends now.