Poses questions about language and learners, both child learners and teacher learners. (JL)

A recent study suggests that the broad idealistic educational objectives voiced by states and districts are a far cry from what is really being taught in classrooms. The question that now must be faced is what we want schools to teach. (JM)

Discusses three language concepts which require urgent attention of social studies teachers. Students need practice in processing the ideas of the social sciences. More attention needs to be directed to teaching the vocabulary of the social studies. Building a background of basic knowledge in social studies is essential. (RM)

Presents results of a survey on the content, organization, staffing, participants, and perceived effectiveness of 14 bidialectal language arts programs (those that use a child's indigenous dialect in the instructional process, usually to demonstrate contrasts with standard English). Suggests that more guidelines for developing and evaluating such…

Contains representative articles, ads, and editorials from issues of "The Elementary English Review," and "Elementary English," both precursors to "Language Arts," from 1944-1953. Selections reflect educational concerns still relevant today, such as the impact of audiovisual equipment and letting children write to…

Examines materials in the ERIC system related to children's early oral language and the transition from home language to the more formal language used in school. Offers activities for a classroom climate that is responsive to children's oral language development needs. (HTH)

Examines notions and examples of instruction that can inhibit language growth, arguing that reading and writing curricula can be designed so that children are provided the freedom to explore language and grow as language learners in much the same way they learned oral language. (HTH)

Examines a professional journal's treatment of the relationship between elementary teachers and commercial reading materials. Findings are divided into 10-year increments from 1924 to the present. (HTH)

Effects of multiage grouping on achievement and self-concept were explored. No significant differences were found between children in multiage and single-age classrooms on any of the achievement measures. Multiage classrooms had higher mean scores on one of the six factors of the self-concept scale, Happiness and Satisfaction. (Author/GK)

The effects of cognitive style matching on achievement in language arts and its relationship to student teacher interaction were investigated in a study. Cognitive similarities of teachers and students were associated with some interaction patterns but not with student achievement. (JN)

A dozen TV-related activities are suggested for parents for use with their children during summer vacation, to reinforce skills in reading, writing, listening, planning, and following directions. (Author/SJL)

An individualized reading process, utilizing task cards and individual conferences, is outlined. Additional ideas are given for using students' book selections in the language arts through discussion, dramatization, and composition. This article is one of four in this issue comprising the Teacher's Reading Seminar 1979. (SJL)

Summarizes a study that investigated teachers' three favorite books as a child and what they felt to be the three best and the three most popular children's books now. Compares the results to a similar study conducted in 1949. (HTH)

Described is a science and language arts activity which involves students writing books about topics of classroom discussion. The information for these books was compiled from encyclopedias, magazines, and personal observation. Grammar skills were emphasized along with scientific content. Students' books were placed in a class library for student…

Described is a joint project of 23 Illinois school districts to develop criterion-referenced test item pools in mathematics and language arts to meet the day-to-day testing needs of classroom teachers and to aid in the development of minimum competency tests mandated by Illinois Senate Bill 238. (Author/SJL)