Uses classroom stories to illustrate ways of rethinking critical practice. Presents information as an attempt to rethink how educators position themselves and their students in the stories they use to theorize "doing literacy" with students. Employs stories about the author, his students, and others to argue for a critical and reflective…

Investigates the use of faculty book clubs as a way to introduce middle school teachers to acclaimed adolescent literature in hopes that they might incorporate the literature read into their language arts and social studies classes. Finds that such clubs are an excellent way to provide staff development in the area of adolescent literature for…

Discusses the many benefits of service learning, and offers examples from the author's high school students. Notes literacy and language arts service learning projects; the importance of integrating service learning into a regular program of instruction; programs and resource materials that support service learning at the K-12 level; and students'…

Summarizes three short young adult novels by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe. Notes the author's positive experience teaching Sneve to middle schoolers. Focuses on themes in Sneve's writing of achieving personal identity, accepting familial and social responsibility, and adopting adult roles. Argues that both…

Surveys high school English teachers in California. Finds that in many areas English teachers' classroom practices do not conform to the integration curriculum guidelines issued by the state. Finds no systematic trend for teachers with an oral communication background to be integrating the language arts more than teachers without this training.…

Describes a cross-curricular website and curriculum that incorporates traditional teaching methods with advanced technologies and that uses Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" as its focal point. Discusses advantages of this online curriculum that integrates language arts, literature, social studies, mathematics, technology and the…

Illustrates ways in which becoming a reader of young adult literature enriched the author's life by making her a better teacher, allowing more connections to students, increasing student involvement, broadening her view of literature in general, connecting her with a rich network of professionals, and putting her back in touch with a part of…

Describes how two teachers at the author's middle school went through a censorship challenge, a difficult experience that ultimately helped teachers and administrators clarify and improve the process of meeting such challenges in the future. Argues that having a written, district-supported procedure for handling challenges, with which all are…

Discusses and answers objections to young adult literature which generally fall into one of two categories: that young adult books are bad because they are not the classics, and/or they corrupt the young. Offers brief descriptions of 12 new or overlooked young adult books worth reading. (SR)

Discusses the strengths and shortcomings of "A Foundation for Implementation," a document written by early childhood teachers from Manitoba, Canada, to guide literacy and language arts instruction. Notes the importance of teacher empowerment in creating the curriculum and of developmentally appropriate practices as a foundation. (JPB)

Discusses the life of Clifton Pearson focusing on his education and addresses the process he uses for creating his artwork. Explores one artwork from his "Celebrated Figures Series." Includes activities in science, language arts, social studies and history, and visual arts. (CMK)

Discusses musical activities that foster early literacy development according to six different early literacy instructional goals: (1) children's learning of concepts of print; (2) a sense of story and sequence; (3) phonemic awareness and phonics; (4) background knowledge and vocabulary; (5) basic spelling patterns; and (6) early writing…

Notes that researching life stories can shape students' sense of direction and purpose both within and beyond the classroom. Considers how the value of researching life stories increases as students move beyond the personal to the cross-generational significance of what they are investigating. Lists 32 picture books and information books on Hmong…

Offers brief descriptions of 23 mysteries that will appeal to adolescent readers. Notes that further lists of excellent titles in the category of juvenile and young adult mystery are available on the Edgar Allen Poe website at http://www.mysterywriters.org/awards.html. (SR)

A study investigated effects of particular units of study on gifted elementary and middle school learners (n=2,189). The use of an integrated literature and writing unit produced significant gains for gifted learners in key aspects of language arts as assessed by demonstration of high-level thinking on performance-based measures. (Contains…