Editorial CONTENTS
Volume 1, Issue 1
WELCOME to Better.
This magazine is dedicated to a revolutionary idea in education: Use what works. It is
4–5 What works in teaching reading
intended to help educational leaders and policy makers access the best in research-based
practice, to help them make better decisions for students at all levels, from foundation
Robert Slavin
to secondary. The articles in Better are written to explain in plain English the state of the
evidence behind informed practice in education.
6–7 Beginning reading
This fi rst issue focuses on literacy in primary and secondary schools. It has articles from
Yola Center
some of the top reading researchers in the world. The articles do not always agree with each
other, because research continues to evolve. But they are all rooted in rigorous research on
8–9 Preparing the generous reader
what works in the teaching of reading.
Better is created in the UK by the Institute for Effective Education (IEE) at the University of
Annemarie Sullivan Palincsar
York, which was established by a grant from the Bowland Trust to advance evidence-based
practice. Better is a companion to the Best Evidence Encyclopaedia (BEE-UK), a free web site
10–11 Struggling adolescent readers
that summarises evidence on educational programmes. Don Deshler
I hope you enjoy reading Better, and that it helps you to improve outcomes for students.
12–13 Preventing literacy failure
Robert Slavin
Sue Burroughs-Lange
Editor-in-Chief
Director of the Institute for Effective Education
14–15 English as an
Better: Evidence-based Education is published three times a year by the Institute for Effective
additional language
Education, University of York, Heslington, YORK YO10 5DD © IEE 2009
Margarita Calderón
Phone: 01904 328151 Email: iee@york.ac.uk
Editor: Jonathan Haslam Writer: Jeannette Bollen-McCarthy
16–17 Digital picture storybooks
Design: Cambridge Publishers Limited
Adriana Bus
The views and opinions expressed in Better are those of the authors, and do not necessarily refl ect
those of the Institute for Effective Education or the University of York.
Copies of Better are available online at www.betterevidence.org.uk
18–19 Peer-mediated learning
Douglas and Lynn Fuchs
Robert Slavin Margarita Calderón
20–21 Committed to evidence
Director of the Institute for Effective Professor and Senior Research
Education at the University of York Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Jonathan Sharples
and the Center for Data-Driven University’s School of Education
Reform in Education at Johns
Hopkins University
22–23 Using evidence for policy
Estelle Morris
Yola Center Adriana Bus
Previously Associate Professor Professor of Education and Child
24–25 News
and now an Honorary Associate at Studies at Leiden University in the
Macquarie University, New South Netherlands
Wales, Australia 26–27 Latest research
Annemarie Sullivan Palincsar Douglas and Lynn Fuchs
Jean and Charles Walgreen Nicholas Hobbs chair in Special
Professor of Reading and Literacy Education and Human Development
and a teacher educator at the at Vanderbilt University in the US
University of Michigan
Don Deshler Jonathan Sharples
Director of the Center for Research Manager of Partnerships at the
on Learning and the Williamson Institute for Effective Education at
Family Distinguished Professor of the University of York

Special Education at the University
of Kansas
Sue Burroughs-Lange Estelle Morris
A Reading Recovery trainer/co- Chair of the Strategy Board of the
ordinator in the European Centre for Institute for Effective Education at
Reading Recovery at the University the University of York
of London Institute of Education
spring 2009 Better: Evidence-based Education 3
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