Describes a five-month project wherein three classes of sophomore language arts students with reading and writing deficiencies wrote and produced plays. Claims this "constructivist" technique is effective because individual components of language are acquired intuitively as the learner engages actively in discourse with other active readers and…

Several winter activities and resources about winter activities are described for adaptation by teachers, regardless of the particular climate of the area. Included are descriptions of activities in language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, art, motor skills, and outdoor education. (CB)

Provides descriptions and background information on: the use of workcards; Piaget and science curriculum analysis; a case for integrated science; the mechanism of aqueous bromination; integrating science/mathematics with language arts; and energy education. (ML)

The consistency of student response patterns on a test of language arts was examined in a set of studies as a first step toward designing a computer adaptive test to diagnose errors. (Author/LMO)

Reports observations of the storytime of preschool children at home and in schools. The results indicated that children's responses were similar in type whether at home or at school but that children tended to respond to literature more like the adult in the situation than like the other children. (HTH)

Suggests that teachers examine the assets of natural language in children's homes for implications for language instruction at school. Discusses a children's story that can be interpreted as an analogy with instructional implications for creating natural language contexts in the classroom. (HTH)

Presents abstracts of documents reporting computer applications in reading and language arts. (AEA)

Describes some of the current views in semantics and semantic development and discusses the implications for vocabulary instruction. Explains the major theories of word meaning acquisition in children and lists researched variables of word meaning development. Offers examples of instructional strategies for effective vocabulary development. (ML)

Explores a five-year-old's writing about his liking for spiders to learn about the relationship between children's investigations of the world as information (content) and their use of language to do so. Discusses implications for teachers of children's ability to deal with concepts and vocabulary associated with content materials. (HTH)

Discusses current assumptions about what constitutes excellence in software for reading and writing instruction by describing commonly accepted guidelines and arguing that evaluation criteria focuses mainly on technical rather than on learning and educational issues. A priori questions emphasizing learning issues are proposed to strengthen…

Explores the cooperation and resistance teachers often encounter as they begin to use a whole language approach in their classrooms, and discusses whole language as a teaching attitude--returning the freedom of learning to students, but still with requisite responsibilities for providing students with all the options from which they may choose.…

Describes a California State Department of Education reading assessment that indicated improvement in reading achievement for some third-grade classrooms and decline in others. Explores the "teacher" factors that account for the difference. (HTH)

Discusses four British educational practices dealing with reading instruction, written language, copybooks, and oral language and how they differ from American practices. (HTH)

Addresses two concerns about how educational reforms are being carried out: (1) the definitions being used to determine what is basic in education, and (2) the tests being used to measure those "basic skills." Suggests some solutions for teachers who recognize the legitimacy of public concern and the necessity of public support. (HTH)

Presents background information on seals, legislation designed to protect them, activities related to seals and the fourth International Day of the Seal, and suggestions for field trips. Includes list of materials available from the Seal Rescue Fund with current costs. (JM)