Examines how two teachers work through a system of collaboration and cooperation, detailing the real-life snags and complications in breaking from the tradition of individualistic approaches to learning. (TB)

Offers four responses from readers of this journal to the question of whether ability grouping in first grade is negative. (SR)

Describes a very successful writing assignment the author uses with his high school English students, in which students write about a letter of the alphabet. Notes that this assignment grants freedom for exploration and voice, the raw material for shaping and can be used to teach everything from the writing of poetry to essays for college…

Discusses four questions that can help teachers decide how, when, and whether to change a unit, lesson, or activity to integrate computer technology: (1) will the technology enhance classroom conversation?; (2) will it validate the work of the classroom?; (3) will it validate the work of the individual?; and (4) is it worth the time and effort?…

Discusses six strategies to help both students and teachers learn to make wise use of information on the World Wide Web: teaching the value of key word skills; using online sources available in the media center; creating pathfinders; teaching students sound searching skills that include Boolean logic; directing students to the best search engines;…

Describes how students in the author's eleventh-grade American literature classes, in groups of three, brought a book, short story, literary character, or historical epoch to life by capturing its essence on video. Suggests these student-produced literary documentaries crossed many disciplines and engaged students thoroughly, while engendering a…

Presents suggestions from two elementary teachers on easy, technology-based learning activities. The first activity involves using the computer to unscramble words and cut and paste them into a sentence. The second activity involves developing web pages of various important parks and other locations to which students can plan and conduct virtual…

Describes a writing exercise for middle schoolers to college students that encourages students to become more aware of language, especially word choice and audience in their writing, by writing lipograms (compositions from which all words containing a certain letter are omitted). Notes it can be used as a pre-revision activity, part of a poetry…

Uses popular sayings and proverbs to introduce chemical phenomena. Presents an exercise including 26 chemical concepts identified with matching proverbs and sayings. (YDS)

This article discusses strategies for differentiating the curriculum for gifted students by using a creative approach to language teaching. It provides suggestions for co-operative and creative classroom language activities, including making a syllable pie, starting a dictionary of sub-cult words, cryptic crosswords, poetry, and tracing language…

Reports on the use of story-telling to develop children's ideas about the water-cycle. Shows that children remember abstract science ideas better when taught in a story format and that they can distinguish the real from the anthropomorphic. (Author/MM)

This article discusses application of Paul's (1992) elements of thought model in language arts curricula to provide students with the skills they need in order to analyze the world around them and manage the various types of issues and problems they encounter. Strategies for applying the model are described. (Contains references.) (CR)

This collection of standards-based activities includes ideas for use in social studies, mathematics, language arts, and art classrooms. A tear-out student reproducible offers a bookmark that allows students to note unfamiliar or unusual words and phrases as they read and to jot down their thoughts and observations. (SM)

Bitter ideological battles exist over hegemonic control of classroom exchange in high school language arts classes. Discusses the debate over the selection of literature that students will read, noting the influence of the dominant culture, the resistance to inclusion of multicultural literature in these classrooms, and the importance of promoting…

Offers the author's perspective on English education in the 1970s using articles published in "English Journal" while he was editor from 1973 to 1980. (SR)