Presents an activity to connect language arts, social studies, and technology in a meaningful way while encouraging students not only to read for details but to "read between the lines" and draw conclusions about a historical figure's inner thoughts and personality. Notes that the biopoem is a simple 10-line poem with a specific, easy-to-follow…

Examines novels in which children or teens in an urban environment, left on their own for a variety of reasons, join together to form a community that explores alternative versions of home and family. Notes urban survival novels encompass a wide variety of genres, and involves dramatic shifts of perspective which challenge protagonists (and…

This activity to meet the basic literacy goals of sixth-grade students shows how to incorporate language arts into the classroom while introducing the principles of technology. Includes a design brief with evaluation rubric. (JOW)

Describes several academic and behavioral issues involving males in schools, such as males score lower in language arts on standardized tests than females and males dominate school discipline statistics. Suggests several strategies to address these issues: Offer more technology, use multiple literacy approaches, encourage mentoring relationships,…

Reviews three professional resources which discuss the issue of the best time to present specific components of the language arts curriculum. (MG)

Offers nine citations from the ERIC database which point to resources for developing students' critical thinking skills. (MG)

Questions the required use of over-sized pencils as writing implements in kindergarten. Evaluates eight writing samples written with eight tools of different sizes and shapes. Reports no noticeable differences in the conventionality (form) of the letters, in directionality, or in spelling. (KEH)

A teacher educator discusses activities which are included in her language arts methods course. Content and process in language arts teaching are explored within a classroom context that encourages reflection, collegial discussion, and scholarly analysis. (IAH)

Outlines the Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) program, a sequenced and structured reading/language arts program used by elementary level students at Bracher School in Santa Clara, California. Describes several cooperative reading and writing activities used in this program. (MM)

Because both whole language and traditional skill-based instruction have strengths, educators should use a combined approach that includes direct instruction in phonics and reading comprehension skills along with whole language instruction. (Author/TE)

Encourages participation of parents as coeducators in the child's learning program. Argues that the teacher's relationship with the student is achievement-oriented, where performance is evaluated, and that teachers are responsible for working with and relating to the student's family. (RAE)

Offers five questions that teachers may use to examine and evaluate their daily lessons while carefully observing their students. (SR)

Makes a case for why the National Council of Teachers of English should participate in the K-12 movement to develop curriculum content standards. Explains that curriculum content standards do not strive to impose teaching practices on teachers but rather encourages the discussion of standards on the local level. (TB)

Presents perspectives of constructionist and conversation analysis in a study of interactive processes in literate activity. Describes the interaction among four Spanish-English students while one student generates a story. Finds four types of coordinated action by students that allowed students to control their own literacy learning. Discusses…

Compares the educational philosophy of most present-day educators (secular democratic consciousness) with the educational philosophy of the religious right (classical democratic consciousness). Argues that language arts departments must defend their programs against the religious right as well as attempt to understand it and forge constructive…