This book, a guide for adults to help children create their own original and creative books, demonstrates how constructing (writing and editing) their own books can be an engaging and highly educational experience for children. The book uses simple, easy-to-follow instructions to demonstrate how scores of different book forms can be made from a…

This yearbook presents seven articles on topics of interest to teachers of language and literature at all levels, kindergarten through college. Articles are: "Fourth Grade Shakespeare" (Mary McNulty); "What's That There in Your Crystal Ball?: Using Journals to Make Predictions" (Katie Wood); "The University English…

Replicating earlier research, a study examined parental expectations for their children in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Subjects, 88 parents approached as they were leaving the supermarket, were asked whether they thought their children would learn how to speak, listen, read, and write. Interviews were conducted by 21 preservice…

A study examined the literature preferences of middle school students and centered around humorous literature. Four student groups of rural seventh and eighth graders (261 students) in language arts classes responded to a questionnaire about their preferences. Results indicated that middle school students were interested in reading humorous…

To serve the function of assessment, the language arts portfolio should be a record of a student's literacy development--a kind of window on the skills and strategies the student uses in reading and writing. Portfolio collections can form the foundation for teacher-student conferences, a vital component of portfolio assessment. The use of…

When the state legislators of Illinois mandated a full-scale statewide assessment program in reading/language arts, the Illinois Association of Teachers of English (IATE) made its stand clear: that tests for Illinois students must be created, designed, and executed by Illinois English/language arts educators, and that a writing sample was an…

Sample student learning contracts and job (task) cards, which have been used successfully with junior high school students, are collected in this document. The sample contracts in the areas of reading, writing, and language arts show a variety of formats and point systems for earning grades. The job cards, which can be placed in a learning…

Designed to study individual use of time spent in reading during regularly scheduled language arts instruction in a natural classroom setting, this coding sheet consists of nine categories: (1) engagement, (2) area of language arts, (3) instructional setting, (4) partner (teacher or pupil(s)), (5) source of content, (6) type of unit, (7) assigned…

The effect of the "Language Arts through Latin" project on teacher participation in college courses and subsequent pupil performance was investigated. The goal of the project was to prepare non-Latin teachers to provide the benefits of a Latin program to intermediate and secondary students who did not receive formal Latin instruction. It was…

One of a series of activity guides, this publication offers a variety of learning activities and resource materials for primary grade students. The activities and resources include: a calendar which lists important days and birthdays in March, April, and May; poems; word puzzles and other puzzles; language arts activities; a flannelboard story;…

This paper examines the major influences of state minimum standards of pupil proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics; state curriculum guides; basic skills testing; and a state-funded compensatory/remedial program on public schools in Louisiana since 1980. The state testing program is described in some detail. Its influence in the home is…

Developed for use in the junior high schools of Duval County, Jacksonvile, Florida, this is a teachers' guide to music appreciation courses. Music Appreciation I examines America's musical heritage and emphasizes music's relationship to science, social studies, and language arts. The course provides study of the scientific fundamentals of sound,…

The rationale for teaching reading and language arts in West African elementary schools and for training teachers, what training should consist of, selection of trainees, and where and by whom it should be given are outlined. Such programs, the author says, are not now available in West Africa. (JT)

Black English should not be used in elementary classrooms in place of standard English but along with it, giving students opportunities to develop use of both equally well.

An examination of current educational theory regarding the functions of language, exploring the relationship of language and thought, various views of linguistic poverty, and language use and instruction in the school. (EH)