Presents instructional strategies that integrate syntax instruction with literacy instruction, while maintaining the integrity of language and the literacy process. Discusses using authentic texts and keeping the literacy process whole, manipulating sentence structures in context, and revising linguistic priorities. (SR)

Maintains that viewing should be incorporated as an integral element in whole language curricula. Suggests a number of activities for the secondary school language arts classroom, pertaining to specific tenets of the whole language approach. (TB)

One way to give students the most comprehensive reading instruction is to combine techniques from three approaches to reading: literature based reading instruction, the whole language strategy, and the use of basal readers. Lesson plans and student activities which demonstrate this combined approach are presented. (IAH)

Presents writing warm-up activities to help elementary students develop and polish their language skills. The warm-up activities focus on detail, descriptive dialog, memory writing, titles, punctuation, and vocabulary enhancement. The activities provide choices, present important ideas, and foster collaboration, responsibility, and trial and error…

Presents annotations of 30 notable children's books in all genres (published in 1996). Includes suggestions of experiences, activities, and related literature for each work of literature. (RS)

Based on the belief that teacher educators can no longer be satisfied to teach about whole language without teaching through whole language, this article presents five major premises of whole language and then describes several strategies by which this philosophy has been implemented in university classrooms. The premises are that learning happens…

Explains how elementary teachers can help students understand onomatopoeia, suggesting that they define onomatopoeia, share examples of it, read poems and have students discuss onomatopoeic words, act out common household sounds, write about sound effects, and create choral readings of onomatopoeic poems. Two appropriate poems are included. (SM)

Illustrating how dramatic storytelling can be used in the school or classroom, this book gives step-by-step guidelines for learning to tell stories and for teaching storytelling to students. The book provides more than 100 lesson-related whole language activities that can be used across the curriculum. The book also provides many examples and…

Clarifying the place of phonics and spelling in a whole language program, this book presents classroom-tested strategies, models, and activities to help students make graphophonic connections, giving them the tools they need to become confident, lifelong readers and writers. Chapters in the book are: (1) Phonics and Spelling in Perspective; (2)…

Describes activities that use a literature- and activity-based approach to teach phonetic skills effectively without using phonics workbooks and worksheets. Activities relate to special letter days during which new letters are featured, games, literature and poetry, music and nursery rhymes, art, writing, and math. (SM)

This book, which uses nursery rhymes as its literature base, represents a non-threatening approach to beginning reading for children in kindergarten through grade 3. The book uses a variety of cross-curricular activities which are built around four familiar nursery rhymes. The book's introduction describes how each rhyme may be used over a 5-day…

This book helps teachers and media directors to use children's literature to enrich elementary reading programs and to pursue sound educational objectives as they share the books and stories. It provides activities designed to expand and enrich the opportunities for children to become literate. It is a tool which addresses the need for children to…

Describes Readers Theatre, a presentation of prose or poetry that is expressively and emotionally read aloud by several readers. Describes how students work collaboratively to adapt their favorite books, poems, or stories to a Readers Theatre script. (RS)

Describes one educator's whole-language approach to elementary school reading. Her class activities focus on books and friends during February to help celebrate Valentine's day. Two student pages offer friendship-oriented student activities. (SM)

Describes changes made in the teaching of a college preservice education course in children's literature and reading methods that reflect principles of the whole-language approach. Discusses integration of curriculum, social context, classroom environment, evaluation, writing, purposeful learning, and opportunities to choose. (SR)