Listening skills are enormously important both in and of themselves and as correlates with reading comprehension. Storytelling is a very productive approach for encouraging listening skills. Perhaps the focal point relative to promoting listening competencies rests with generating appropriate attitudes among listeners. Directions for listening to…

This article describes Readers Theater (a form of group storytelling in which two or more readers present a piece of literature by reading aloud from hand-held scripts) and advocates its use in the classroom. The paper's seven sections are as follows: (1) What is Readers Theater; (2) Readers Theater and Its Conventions (discussing scripts,…

An ethnographic study examined the interdependence and synergism of multiple symbol systems of first grade writers. Subjects, four first grade students, were followed as they engaged in playful literacy--composing with blocks, clay, shadow puppets, tissue paper collage, drawing, and written and spoken words. "Thick description" was used…

Research from various fields supports the crucial relationship of speech and writing. Experience with the Story Workshop used in composition classes can show how thinking, speaking, listening, reading, writing, recalling, and immediate audience focus can be integrated into every phase of the writing process. Activities must enable students find…

Reading aloud is an essential part of the classroom instructional program, along with direct instruction and sustained silent reading or book contact, and should not be slighted despite the numerous time demands from other sources. Reading aloud to children provides opportunities for introducing children to good literature and encourages language…

The paper describes an approach in which games were planned to provide instruction for three severely handicapped children (5-6 years old) with few leisure, social, or academic skills and many aberrant behaviors. The first of two games involved a language program to teach verbal interactions, picture identification, and picture matching. The…

Intended to acquaint students and parents with the English program at Bellaire High School (Michigan), this guide contains the curriculum for grades 7 through 12. After a short introduction stating the program's philosophy and student requirements, a style sheet for all student papers, and a list of the program's sequence, the curriculum for each…

In stimulating children to discuss their feelings through language arts activities, puppets and poetry were utilized. (RK)

A televised program of Tales from King Arthur for elementary students provides reinforcement for other language arts skills as well as a personal literary experience for the viewer. (JH)

Argues the need for the development of oral language skills as a basis for reading and writing at the elementary school level. (RB)

Reading success will be encouraged if children are given ample opportunity to verbally respond to first-hand experiences. (JH)

Analysis of 38 curriculum guides suggests the pace of change in English classrooms is slow and undramatic. (JH)

Cites numerous examples from "The Real Mother Goose" supporting the contention that many of the rhymes are sexist. (TO)

Suggests that the teacher who wants to lead children toward visual literacy and eventually to reading and writing skill must help children explore what they themselves perceive and how and why they perceive it. (TO)