The ability to understand and appreciate the parallels and differences between customs, values, and beliefs of your culture and a different culture.

A technique that uses multiple texts to shed light on several perspectives on a given topic. Groups of students each read a different text and discuss it. When finished, the students are placed into new groups so that each text is now represented in the new group.

The literacy skills required to navigate society successfully.

The use of literacy in specific areas such as math literacy or science literacy.

A student-created text that represents a new viewpoint compared to standard texts. This can include oral, written, visual, or imagined representations.

Readers who are willing to attempt more challenging material. They have intrinsic reasons for reading such as a desire to gain new knowledge or enjoyment. Motivated readers also tend to enjoy the social aspect of discussing the things they learned from their readings.

A principle of a constructivist classroom where teachers intentionally demonstrate the knowledge and skills that students will need to become more effective readers.

A perspective on learning and reading that includes the cognitive, motivational, and social aspects of the classroom. Engaged learners want to understand the material that is presented to them and have intrinsic motivation for interacting with it. They use their cognitive skills to understand, and, once they do, they discuss

Readers who create new understanding based on their prior knowledge and a connection with the new material.

A preschool that uses many different techniques to help address language deficits. Many of them use environmental factors such as toys to help facilitate more language.