In your local school, do first graders with reading difficulties get an extra hour of reading instruction a day? Are students writing and reading every day, learning new words and their meanings, and being taught to blend letters and sounds to form new words? These are a few of the items on this checklist published by the U.S. Dept. of Education on how to recognize a good reading program.

The summer of 2000, Caitlin Johnson volunteered in a language arts summer school class for 6th graders in Alexandria, Virginia, she left convinced that helping kids become confident writers is a critical job—and a tough one.

Looking for a good summer read? Our Book Review section covers books for adults who care about issues facing kids and families. Check out these reviews by staff and readers.

Based on a comprehensive analysis of the research, the National Reading Panel's April 13, 2000 report found that teaching phonics, word sounds and letter combinations, and giving feedback on oral reading combined with reading comprehension instruction offer the most effective way to teach children to read.

Want to be sure all kids learn to read? This report from the Southern Regional Education Board identifies six elements that are critical to improving students' reading performance, and describes the approaches some states have taken to dealing with these issues.

Scholastic has launched a literacy aid site with materials for teachers, parents and kids. The site focuses on improving literacy skills "for the 21st century," and includes activities for information management, critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving, self-expression and fluency in reading, comprehension and writing.

Reading books together and making regular trips to the library are just some of the ways to help busy teens discover the world of literature. The American Library Association offers these tips.

Every day, thousands of families are touched by family literacy programs. Staff writer Caitlin Johnson explores family literacy and what it means for parents, children and communities.

Why aren't more parents recognizing their role as their children's first teachers? Senior Editor Richard Louv explores the challenges that modern parents face to becoming partners in children's learning.