The study reported in this article is derived from a critical analysis of the work of 28 pre-service teachers enrolled in the course "Teaching elementary language arts" in a Bachelor of Education concurrent program in a southern State university. The pre-service teachers were taught how to use an innovative knowledge-building framework based on…

This article examines the lives of four multilingual students, their classmates, and teacher as they use a range of semiotic systems to learn from, with, and about each other and their surrounding social worlds. Research reveals how literacy practices not only built on students' resources but also invited critique and change. (Contains 5 figures.)

Although some studies indicate that primary children lose their momentum in reading and language arts during summer vacation, this article describes several fun activities that can help to minimize skill loss. Many of these ideas involve parent participation, which makes them even more desirable.

The English Language Arts teachers in this qualitative study reported somewhat negative outcomes in social and material spaces in the context of laptop technology in their classrooms. These outcomes included: (a) social isolation, (b) limited communication with a teacher or peers, and (c) off-task behavior. In an attempt to uncover the reasons for…

In Single Subject preservice programs across the U.S., literacy professors are coping with the demands of preparing their candidates to teach reading and writing across the content areas. The professors are challenged to establish a credible rationale for why teachers in content areas such as physical education, art, and music should be required…

How can we prepare and encourage new teachers to take on the challenge of changing traditional views of literacy education? Teacher educator William Kist shares a first-year teacher's story of incorporating new literacies within an eighth-grade alternative classroom.

This paper examines evidence on the "systemic effects" of expanding school choice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee is home to one of the nation's largest and longest-running school choice programs. If there are systemic effects from expanding school choice we should be able to see them in Milwaukee. This paper also introduces a novel…

During the 2009-2010 school year, Marzano Research Laboratory (MRL) was commissioned by Promethean Ltd. to conduct a second year evaluation study of the effects of Promethean ActivClassroom on student academic achievement. This report describes the findings from the second year study along with aggregate findings from the first and second year…

In the fall of 2005 the principal and teachers at Knickerbacker Middle School (KMS) were worried. KMS was a "School in Good Standing" but had not hit federal or state benchmarks because of low subgroup scores on the English Language Arts (ELA) test--especially scores received by economically disadvantaged students, about half of this…

This report summarizes AISD student TAKS results among former English language learner students in spring 2006. This is part 1 of a 2-report series. [For part 2, see ED619483.]

The author explores the advantages and disadvantages of integrated curriculum in the middle school setting. She reviews several models for integrated curriculum and guidelines for creating a successful integrated curriculum. A ready-to-use middle school unit on the American Revolution is also presented. Nine complete lessons are provided for…

Like other public schools, California charter schools are judged primarily by one measure: student test scores. Though necessary, the Academic Performance Index and Average Yearly Progress scores can't assess charter schools' broad dimensions of student learning, program effectiveness and school operations. The state's accountability system…

Detailing a collaboration between an elementary school teacher and a middle school teacher, this book is about making connections--connections that make learning meaningful for students and teachers. The book describes how the teachers worked to bridge the gap between content area subjects and the gap in their understanding of each other's…

Each of the seven study guides combined in this packet provides a lesson that includes a reading or descriptive narrative of the topic, along with teaching objectives, questions to consider, and suggested classroom activities. Topics covered are: (1) "Introduction to the Concept of Folklife"; (2) "Southern Gospel Music and…

This paper presents the syllabus for a course which provides instruction in reading and language arts evaluations for K-12 students perceived to have reading and language arts problems. The paper begins with a list of the four required texts and the six optional texts. The paper then discusses the grading policy, course objectives, course…