Abstract
An evaluation of two methods of teaching English to children-- 'phonic instruction' method and 'whole language' method. The author reviews many studies investigating the effectiveness of these methods and discusses incorporating both methods into a lesson plan. The conclusion is to gear one's methods towards each individual child's needs and preferences.

From the Paper
"There have been many studies done on the effectiveness of phonetic instruction and those studies have been positive. The National Reading Panel conducted a meta-analysis on the effectiveness of phonetic instruction on reading and spelling. Overall, the impact of phonetic instruction on children had a large result of (.86) within this meta-analysis. Using phonetic instruction, reading and spelling improved moderately at (.53) and (.56) respectively (Ehri, Nunes, Willows, Schuster, Yaghoub-Zadeh, & Shanahan, 2001). However, there are some critics of phonics that find that the NRP study on phonetic instruction is flawed and does not prove that phonetic instruction is the way to teach. One critic claims that the NRP study choice of methodology, research, and subjects provided unreliable results (Garan, 2001)."

Tags:linguistics, education, teacher, phonetic

Abstract
This paper presents a detailed discussion about the need for library media specialists to promote library media programs. The writer argues that specialists need to be proactive in selling the media library programs and services. The argument includes ideas on changing the traditional view of libraries as well library media specialists.

From the Paper
"The world of the library has changed in ways that we never imagined were possible. Today with the click of a mouse we can visit nations across the ocean, we can check the price of stock and there is no topic on earth that cannot be researched if we know how to use the Internet. Gone are the days that libraries handed out cards and one was limited to two books a week. Gone are the days in which one went to the library and could not find what they needed because the topic was obscure."

Tags:books, inormation, internet, assistance, media, program, service

From the Paper
EBONICS AND LITERACY
"Dialects in the United States are spread throughout the country. Not all members of a group speak the same dialect, and dialects among groups differ. he most controversial dialect in American English is Ebonics. In order to advance socially and economically, individuals must have access to the culture of power, and therefore, dialect use is often discouraged by teachers in favor of Standard English use. But, does sufficient reason exist to discard or devalue vernacular dialects in pursuit of literacy in Standard English?

There is scarcely a country in the world today that could claim to be monolingual in any real sense Furthermore, historical linguistic conflicts reemerge as minorities assert their identity ( Literacy , no date, p. 1). In 1990, over 30% of the public school ..."

Abstract
This paper discusses the main principle behind the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001 - that students would be tested in reading and math every year from 3rd grade on. It shows how schools which score well would be rewarded while those that score poorly would be punished. The paper questions whether this is a good plan and whether it will make education in America better.

From the Paper
"No Child Left Behind is based on seven principles. First, (and most controversially) there is to be accountability of results. This means that in grades 3-8 students will take tests in reading and math and parents will receive school and state report cards. The data will also be made available to the public. Second, the program is designed to create flexibility at the state and local level and reduce red tape, although critics do not agree with this assertion. Ten programs were cut or consolidated at the U.S. Department of Education and schools now have the flexibility to transfer up to 50 percent of the funds they receive from the federal government into alternative programs. (This does not include Title I funds). Third, HR 1 expanded options for parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing additional funds for school choice, supplemental services, and charter schools. Fourth, HR 1 tripled the amount of federal money appropriated for reading programs. Fifth, the bill required that a fully qualified teacher be in every classroom by 2005. Sixth, there is a confirming process to ensure standardized test quality. Finally, measures were taken to help limited English proficient (LEP) students learn English quickly."

Tags:charter, choice, education, school, teacher, training, vouchers

Abstract
Students who suffer from the condition of autism present educators and policymakers at all levels with a complex set of questions about how to best help these students achieve the best possible academic outcome, while balancing the needs of other students in the school systems. "Mainstreaming" such learning disabled students has become a popular approach and has proven to be an effective alternative to many special education settings, but the fact remains that students who suffer from autism, like all other people, have highly individualized needs that, in some cases, cannot be adequately addressed in a typical classroom setting. This paper shows that understanding when and why and for how long to include students with autism in a mainstream classroom has become an extremely important issue for educators today. This paper examines the scholarly literature to develop answers to these questions, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.

From the Paper
"Today, approximately 5 percent of all public school students are identified as having a learning disability. This broad category includes disabilities in reading, language, and mathematics. One in every 10 students in public schools today receives special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). According to Horn and Tynan (2001), prior to the 1950s, the federal government was not routinely involved in the education of children with special needs. "A few federal laws had been passed to provide direct educational benefits to persons with disabilities, mostly in the form of grants to states for residential asylums for the "deaf and dumb, and to promote education of the blind". These laws, however, were in the tradition of providing residential arrangements for persons with serious disabilities, services that had existed since colonial times" (Horn & Tynan, 2001, p. 36). These researchers point out that absent federal law, how -- and even whether -- children with disabilities were to be educated within the public schools was left to the discretion of the states and their local school districts. This state of affairs changed dramatically in 1975, though, with the passage of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142)."

Tags:disabilities, handicapped, mainstreaming, IDEA

Abstract
This paper focuses on facts and statistics surrounding America's growing problem of illiteracy. The author discusses the major causes of illiteracy and the numbers of illiterates today. The author then presents some solutions to solve the problem.

From the Paper
"?Call 1-800-ABC-DEFG; Hooked on Phonics worked for me.? Almost everyone has heard the commercial that uses this motto, Hooked on Phonics. Children of all ages tell how Hooked on Phonics helped them to read. For skeptical parents there is a money back guarantee if their children do not improve at least a letter grade on their next report card. Obviously something is wrong in America if fewer and fewer children are being taught how to read. Granted many children can read, but there is still little or no reading comprehension. Illiteracy is a never-ending cycle in America".

Tags:reading, education, children, books, comprehension

Abstract
This paper deals with a review of the literature using guided reading as a tool in the classroom and how it can be used in a classroom. It offers a comprehensive methodology of how to implement guided reading and how to achieve the benefits of this activity. The research is based on a wide variety of sources and provides a good review.

From the Paper
"A critical foundation in guided reading is that students read the materials at their instructional levels. During a typical lesson, students discuss both the content and the strategies that they used to make sense of what is being read. Specific attention is devoted to comprehension levels, questioning, before-reading strategies, during-reading strategies, and after-reading strategies."

Tags:arts, education, language, reading, teaching, techniques, tools

From the Paper
"The controversy over Ebonics is a very serious one indeed. Many factors are considered in the battle over this dialect which is growing in controversy and popularity. Teachers and educators alike must consider the effects of the use of Ebonics in education and mainstream culture. The battle over Ebonics is very clear. The opposition speaks out strongly against Ebonics and its effects in mainstream education. Supporters of Ebonics, like the Oakland Board of Education, argue that more stable and well-rounded students will emerge from the acknowledgment and study of Ebonics as a separate language."

Tags:ebonics, education, african, american, black, english

Abstract
An argumentative paper examining the social problems and effects arising in American democracy due to the presence of illiteracy. The author searches for a solution, and presents a few ideas concerning the issue.

From the Paper
?An entire side of a can of WD40 (household product used for unstitching valves and fixing squeaky wheels) is devoted to health warnings. "Heat may cause can to burst violently", "deliberate or direct inhalation may be harmful or fatal", "If swallowed, do NOT induce vomiting". Okay, so we have to be careful when handling WD40 - but you wouldn't know that if you couldn't read those warnings. Startling numbers of Americans cannot read something as simple as a warning on the side of a can. Those same people cannot read their lease agreements for their apartments, street signs, the electricity, heat, water and phone bills which could leave them without those basic commodities. Believe it or not, these people incapable of performing basic daily skills do exist in our great Land of Opportunity. The problem is obviously rooted in our educational system, but the solution must go past just educational reform - and we are light years away from even accomplishing that yet. Educators, social scientists, authors, and most anyone concerned with solving the poverty problem in the U.S. have been calling for action from the government as well as from the American people."

Tags:american, government, problems, reform, social

Abstract
The paper discusses the subject of dyslexia using R. Temple's "Your Child - Dyslexia - Practical and Easy-to-Follow Advice" as a resource for information. The paper first provides a brief summary of the book and then goes on to discuss the book's coverage of the causes, symptoms, and interventions of dyslexia. The paper concludes with the writer's evaluation of Temple's book, stating that she would recommend it because she felt that it raised some interesting points but also caused her to think beyond the material presented and into the broader context of her world.

Outline:
Summary
Causes
Symptoms
Interventions
Evaluation

From the Paper
"Current research is focused on: proving that the brain structure of dyslexics is different from that of non-dyslexics; finding a gene that causes dyslexia; comparing the accuracy of different models for explaining dyslexia; and explaining how dyslexics differ from non-dyslexics in processing information in the brain. Temple states that there is "no standard, objective, commonly-agreed-upon set of criteria for dyslexia presently available."

Tags:non-dyslexic, population, release, procedure, disorientation