Reviews the history of International Literacy Day, begun in 1966 by UNESCO. Offers a collection of activities for schools wishing to commemorate the annual events on September 8th. Includes a brief annotated bibliography of instructional materials on the topic of illiteracy. (JDH)

A collection of 25 creative teaching tips includes ideas for teaching language arts and mathematics activities. Basic classroom organization techniques are suggested that will help the class run smoothly. These ideas are "teacher tested" and require little preparation and few materials. (DF)

Describes a language arts program in a Brooklyn, New York, public school in which children are questioned about their writing and their interests and allowed the freedom to put any interest on paper. Discusses the problems children encounter with such writing freedom, as well as the program's effectiveness. (HTH)

Describes four encounters--with a doctoral student, a primary grade teacher, a child, and a sociolinguist--to illustrate how teaching and learning, two separate ventures, are sometimes confused with one another. (HTH)

Results of a study that examined elementary teachers' beliefs related to curriculum integration in language arts and reading instruction showed that while teachers generally favor integrating language arts instruction, only minimal amounts of integration actually occur in their classrooms. (RM)

Describes a study of early readers to determine the linguistic and social interactions in the homes of early readers that seemed to make a difference in their reading. (HTH)

Reports preliminary findings from a study of kindergartners using LOGO in a computer laboratory. The study highlights the oral language that occurs while children produce computer graphics. (HTH)

Argues that James Moffett's influential model of a young writer's development is flawed, because it depicts beginning writers as being far more limited than they are. (HTH)

Explores the patterns in children's talk about their writing, by means of transcribed conversations during daily writing/sharing sessions in a first grade classroom. Discusses the importance of this kind of talk. (HTH)

Recognizes the potential for computers in the classroom and delineates stringent guidelines for writing and selecting programs that will stimulate and challenge students rather than stifle and bore them. (CRH)

Seven junior high age TMR students were instructed to recognize sight vocabulary words using handwriting or typing activities. Typing speed increased at an accelerated rate and accuracy in copying words by typing was consistently superior to copying by handwriting: typing activities were as effective as handwriting activities in promoting sight…

Describes learning activities about cats for primary and intermediate grades. Primary grade activity subjects include cat behavior, needs, breeds, storybook cats, and celestial cats. Intermediate grade activity subjects include cat history, care, language, literary cats, and cats in art. (BC)

Describes the author's experiences as a researcher working with a second grade teacher to implement change in the literacy curriculum, arguing that educational researchers need to engage in collaborative pedagogy with classroom teachers to develop a "theory of use." (HTH)

Provides an annotated book list for use by elementary school teachers. Emphasizes children's involvement in word play and word games as a means to strengthen the language arts program. Specific areas covered include word play and word games, riddles, jokes, rhymes and verse, sounds and words, and word histories. (DST)

Recalls the energy and dedication of a homely first grade teacher. (HTH)