A new club in Rhode Island invited every Rhode Islander to read the same book and participate in the conversation on importance of reading. Narrative, analytical and various responses of students on reading "Wish You Well" are mentioned.

Provides information on initiating and planning poetry-in-the-schools programs, the problems normally encountered in developing such programs, and the benefits of the programs. Notes resources for learning about the work of poets in the schools. (JT)

Criticizes the California Assessment Program (CAP) prior to l987 for testing writing skills objectively. Describes the specific improvements in the new CAP Directed Writing Assessment which focuses on the most important characteristics necessary to a particular type of writing rather than those that are common to all types.(NH)

Details the history of California's experience with large-scale writing assessment. Describes the introduction, development, and scoring of the California Assessment Program, later renamed the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS). Discusses controversies over removal of certain writing prompts and objections to CLAS. Notes that funding for…

Describes the Analytic Writing Exchange (AWE) as a cooperative endeavor by teachers who teach students to score writing papers and provide opportunities for students to exchange and grade papers written by their peers in cooperating schools. Claims students in the program become better writers and score better on state tests.(NH)