This article describes an authentic assessment approach used in English/language arts and mathematics with gifted students in Texas elementary and secondary schools, which focused on developing instructional experiences that challenge gifted students and documenting student progress over time. The use of portfolios was valuable for both…

Describes a thematic, interdisciplinary, middle-school curriculum that integrates visual and language arts. Curriculum embodies three principles: (1) visual and verbal responses depend on meaningful interaction among the artist (writer), the art object (text), the viewer (reader), and the environment (context); (2) visual and verbal thinking are…

Examines the drive to develop a national set of standards for the English Language Arts curriculum. Addresses the issues of what standards are, what the current standards terrain looks like, what sort of standards could be set, and what the dangers are in the process. Offers suggestions for educators to begin the process of developing useful…

The article explores the creation of whole-language learning, examining educational reform since the 1950s. It presents descriptions of whole-language learning, noting confusion about its definition and debating whether it is a reaction to poor reading and language arts teaching or response to criticisms of teaching since the 1950s. (SM)

Uses a teacher's thematic unit on endangered species to share how technology can help to make meaningful connections across the curriculum. Shows how the unit includes science, social studies, mathematics, art, language arts, and music. (SR)

Examined the performance of intellectually gifted pupils in enriched programs in grades five through eight. Pupils in enriched classes showed academic achievement superior to that of pupils in normal classes. There was variability among gifted pupils in academic achievement and in characteristics of learning, motivation, creativity, and…

To gain appreciation for each others' perspectives, a Mississippi language arts consultant and a third-grade teacher from Iowa traded jobs for a year. As a consultant, the teacher found that classroom teachers were more interested in whole-language instruction practicalities than in theory. As a teacher, the consultant learned that classroom…

Describes a pilot program in Alaska (in six remote rural schools from highly diversified regions) that attempted to train high school teachers to teach journalism as they established classes to produce school newspapers as a unit in an English class. (SR)

Inner-city kindergarten children (n=24) were given an 18-week phonological awareness training program, which incorporated auditory and articulatory techniques for fostering metaphonological development. Compared to controls, subjects had greater gains in phonological awareness at the end of kindergarten and had a trend toward better reading skills…

A checklist is provided for interactive educational assessment in the language arts. Columns list matched sets of performance areas, behavioral indicators, and related concerns, divided into sections on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Student comprehension, attentiveness, knowledge, expressiveness, and skills are included in assessment…

Describes the production of a dramatic musical, Chimera: A Journey to Redoubtia, at Chapman Elementary School in Anchor Point, Alaska. Student participation in the project, and students' rewards from participation, are detailed. Benefits of the integration of dramatics into the language arts curriculum are listed. (BB)

Presents two classroom lessons designed to integrate language arts and art education into primary and intermediate grade social studies instruction. Provides step-by-step procedures and one student handout sheet. (CFR)

Describes how small groups of eighth graders in a reading and language arts class collaborated on writing and performing mystery plays. Notes that mutual critiques during rehearsals lead to meaningful revisions and expanded students' knowledge of plot and characterization. (SR)

Describes how computer technology has been integrated into the mission of the National Reading Research Center (NRRC). NRRC's rationale for including computer technology in its research agenda is outlined, current research projects involving computers and literacy are reviewed, and several projects that reflect NRRC's major emphases and goals are…

This study, with three mildly handicapped nine-year olds, investigated the effects on capitalization skills of a peer teaching procedure combined with student letter-writing activities. Findings indicated acquisition of the skills, with mixed results for generalization. Two of the 3 mildly handicapped peer teachers (ages 10-11) also improved their…