Archived: America Reads: Resources & Research

A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Books, Reading Activities, Videos, Best Practices, and more...

	NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: EAGER TO LEARN The National Research Council's new executive summary, Eager to Learn: Educating our Preschoolers highlights the findings of the National Research Council's Committee on Early Childhood Pedagogy, established in 1997, to study early learning and care for children ages two to five. The executive summary offers a number of suggestions for improving early childhood education in preschool, day care and other settings. This publication will be helpful for educators, childcare providers, parents and policy makers. Order free of charge by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS.
	PREVENTING READING DIFFICULTIES IN YOUNG CHILDREN This landmark 1998 report of the National Research Council synthesizes the wealth of research on early reading development. It provides an integrated picture of how reading develops and how reading instruction should proceed. The book includes recommendations for practice and further research. Hardcover copies are available from the National Academy Press by calling 1-800-624-6242. Each book costs $35.95 plus shipping and handling.
	STARTING OUT RIGHT: A GUIDE TO PROMOTING CHILDREN'S READING SUCCESS This guide, developed by the National Research Council, explains how children learn to read and how adults can help them. Based on the 1998 National Research Council report, Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children, it provides ideas that parents, educators, policy-makers, and others can use to prevent reading difficulties in early childhood and the primary grades. Copies are available from the National Academy Press by calling 1-800-624-6242. Each book costs $14.95 plus shipping and handling.
	REPORT OF THE NATIONAL READING PANEL: TEACHING CHILDREN TO READ The National Reading Panel Report outlines the most effective approaches to teaching children to read, the status of the research on reading, and reading instruction practices that are ready to be used by teachers in classrooms. Both the report and the congressional testimony are available on-line in PDF format and in hard copy with an accompanying video.
	CENTER FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EARLY READING ACHIEVEMENT (CIERA) CIERA's mission is to improve the reading achievement of America's children by generating and disseminating theoretical, empirical, and practical solutions to persistent problems in the learning and teaching of beginning reading.
	EVERY CHILD A READER CIERA features an innovative series of 6-page pamphlets written for teachers and teacher educators. The pamphlets provide a summary of research-based knowledge from a wide variety of sources, including the National Research Council's, Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children. Effective, research-based strategies to implement in any classroom are presented in clear, concise language. Available for $10.00 per set. Order by calling CIERA (Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement) at (734) 647-6940, or email ciera@umich.edu.
	START EARLY, FINISH STRONG: HOW TO HELP EVERY CHILD BECOME A READER This new book provides the latest research, resources, referrals, and recommendations on how to help all children succeed in reading. It focuses on the vital roles of families, child caregivers, schools, and communities, and provides innovative examples of research-based principles in practice. Contacts are provided for a diverse range of projects. Website only.
	IDEAS AT WORK: HOW TO HELP EVERY CHILD BECOME A READER This directory, a companion to Start Early, Finish Strong, provides innovative examples of literacy activities at the national, state, local, and community levels, with special sections on business leadership and the nonprofit sector. All entries have contact information to expand your network of ideas and resources. Website Only.
	THE COMPACT FOR READING The GUIDE explains how to develop an effective compact for reading for kindergarten through third-grade students. The compact is a written agreement among families, teachers, principals, and students. It describes how all partners can help improve the reading skills of all children, including English Language Learners and students with disabilities. Tutors and other community members can also be partners in a compact for reading. The School-Home Links Kit helps implement local reading compacts. Developed by a team of teachers in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, this kit includes 100 one-page reading activities for each grade from kindergarten through third. Three to four times per week, teachers can provide these easy-to-use activities to families. This encourages their involvement in reading activities and support of school learning. Website only.
	*READWRITENOW!*
	The *ReadWriteNow! Activity Poster* includes a colorful illustration on the front and fun activities for children grades K-6 on the back. One activity encourages students to submit book reviews for publication on the America Reads Challenge ReadWriteNow web site .
	The *ReadWriteNow! Basic Kit, developed by reading experts to develop and build language and literacy skills from birth through grade six, includes fun reading and writing activities, a vocabulary log, and a certificate of accomplishment. Website only. EL RETO ¡ A LEER AMÉRICA! ¡A LEER Y ESCRIBIR YA!* Cómo Divertirse Leyendo y Escribiendo. Website only.
	*READYSETREAD* The READYSETREAD Activity Guides for Families and Caregivers provide ideas you can use to help young children learn about language through age-appropriate activities. Website only. Spanish versions of the Activity Guides for Familias and Cuidadores de Niños Pequeños are also available.Website only.
	READING SUCCESS NETWORK The Reading Success Network is a network of schools actively pursuing school-wide change to propel the reading achievement of every student. Schools and other organizations joining the network identify a Coach, who receives on-going support, training, materials, and participation in a Leadership Forum. Publications, a Web Page, and Listserv to support teachers, administrators, and parents are available to the local Reading Success schools.
	SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP ALL CHILDREN READ WELL AND INDEPENDENTLY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE This booklet provides a guide that all community members can use to help children learn to read and become better readers. It includes a general outline for starting a literacy program, with suggestions for families, schools, child care providers, businesses, senior citizens, and others. Available by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS or on the website.
	NAEP 1998 READING REPORT CARD FOR THE NATION This report presents the results of the 1998 NAEP national reading assessment of fourth-, eighth-, and twelfth-grade students. Performance is indicated in terms of average scores on a 0-to-500 scale, and percentages of students attaining three achievement levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. The 1998 results are compared to those in 1994 and 1992. Data for participating states is included. Available by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS.
	IDENTIFYING LOCAL RESOURCES FOR YOUR LITERACY PROGRAM: A GUIDE FOR NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS This booklet helps you identify partners and stakeholders in your community to further your efforts to help children become readers. It focuses on what local program coordinators typically need, such as books, volunteers, training, and funding, and offers ideas and examples of how others have succeeded in locating these resources within their communities.
	SO THAT EVERY CHILD CAN READ... AMERICA READS COMMUNITY TUTORING PARTNERSHIPS This booklet summarizes the work of effective community tutoring programs in 60 diverse communities. The report identifies successful and promising practices related to the fundamentals of operating a tutoring program, training tutors, and obtaining tutoring materials. Website only.
	RAISING A READER, RAISING A WRITER This brochure for parents lays out simple ways to nurture a child into becoming a successful reader. It includes characteristics of good child care and what to ask your child's teacher. Available for 50¢ each (100 copies for $10) by calling 1-800-424-2460 or by email: resource_sales@naeyc.org.
	*READWRITENOW! TUTORING MANUAL* This manual provides the reading tutor with tools and strategies for one-on-one tutoring of school-age children in grades 1 - 6. Order by calling Hadassah at (212) 303-8042, or by email: ccurtis@hadassah.org.
	READ WITH ME: A GUIDE FOR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS STARTING EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY PROGRAMS This booklet, based on the Harvard Emerging Literacy Project, provides guidelines for placing undergraduates as literacy volunteers to work with young children. It discusses the roles of families and communities and includes a summary of brain research, a checklist, and resources. Available for free by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS.
	CHECKPOINTS FOR PROGRESS IN READING AND WRITING FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES OR IN READING AND WRITING FOR TEACHERS AND LEARNING PARTNERS These two booklets provide developmental milestones for children from birth through grade 12 and explain what most children are able to read and write within these periods. Directed toward parents and community members, or teachers and tutors, the booklets outline necessary skills, suggest books for each age group to read, and offer strategies and resources to assist children. Available for free by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS.
	ON THE ROAD TO READING: A GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS The guide advises community partners on how to become involved in the America Reads Challenge. It presents a step-by-step process and describes how most children learn to read, how tutors can help young readers, and how community partnerships support the progress of literacy. Website only.
	READING HELPERS: A GUIDE FOR TRAINING TUTORS This free manual outlines 36 hours of pre-service and in-service training for tutors working with children from preschool through third grade. Lesson plans, handouts, and an extensive resource list are included. This manual is used with On the Road to Reading. Website only.
	THE LEARNING PARTNERS SERIES The Learning Partners Series consists of a number of fliers released by the National Institute on Student Achievement, Curriculum, and Assessment and the National Institute on the Education of At-Risk Students for use in school newsletters to parents and for parent conferences. Fliers include Let's Use the Library! , Let's Read! and Let's Write!. Website only.
	INCLUDING YOUR CHILD This booklet for parents with special-needs children covers the first eight years of life. It gives helpful suggestions to parents to help them relate to their special-needs children and find support services for their children and themselves. Available by calling the National Library of Education at 1-800-424-1616 (single copies only). For additional copies ($10.00 each) call (202) 512-1800.
	HELPING YOUR CHILD SERIES If you are interested in fun learning activities to do with children, you'll find more than 150 of them in the very popular "Helping Your Child" Series. To order "Helping Your Child Become a Reader" call 1-888-878-3256.
	RECURSOS EN ESPANOL U.S. Department of Education educational resources for spanish speakers.
	THE AMERICA READS CHALLENGE RESOURCE KIT The materials in this kit were assembled by the U.S. Department of Education to help new America Reads Challenge community sites plan and implement literacy programs for children from birth through elementary school. Website only.
	THE AMERICA READS CHALLENGE CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION Show your appreciation with these certificates that can be printed directly from your computer. The certificates are in PDF form.
	THE AMERICA READS CHALLENGE FEDERAL WORK-STUDY BROCHURE The brochure, "Now Is The Time" is aimed to help educators and community members learn how they can partner with colleges and universities to utilize Federal Work-Study tutors. Anyone who is involved in America Reads should order these brochures now! Order by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS.
	THE AMERICA READS CHALLENGE TUTOR RECRUITMENT BROCHURE Tutor recruitment brochures are available. Use the brochure to help recruit volunteers and/or federal work study student tutors. Order by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS.
	SPIDER-MAN IN AMAZING ADVENTURES This unique comic book, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Dairy Council, offers a wide range of literacy and health related activities for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Kids can work on the activities, which range from simple to complex, by themselves, in the classroom, or with their family. Website only.
	PLAY ON PAPER Play on Paper is a short booklet that introduces pre-kindergarten and entering kindergarten children to a number of reading readiness concepts. Website only.