Epilogue and New Directions: State of the Field: The Research We Have, The Research We Need

In this final chapter, authors Lee, Morrow, Neuman, and Reutzel outline various perspectives of the state of the language arts and take an across-the-disciplines approach to the “complex interactive system” where “learning unfolds.” The “cauldron of development” includes instruction with attention to language, the classroom setting, helping students build meaningful social relationships, understanding the complexity in texts, and the role of prior knowledge on student comprehension. The authors also discuss the importance of preparing teachers for their important role in language comprehension and highlight techniques for language comprehension instruction. The chapter ends with a look at the increasing role of technology in the language arts.