Explains how to "carve" a text, rearranging or omitting words without altering the basic message. Notes that this exercise helps students become aware of how language can be manipulated for meaning. (MM)

Describes a student-created "rap" that emphasizes fifth graders' recall of basic English elements, using textual information from "Building English Skills." (MM)

A classroom technique using information from the mass media as a basis for student-developed dramas and interpretations is explained and described as a series of instructional phases. (MSE)

Presents activities that physical educators can use to help young students who are still learning basic ball control skills. Students use a pinky ball (a small, low-bounce rubber ball) to stay on task while improving ball control skills. Games include seven-up, errors, box ball, and hit the coin. (SM)

Describes drama learning strategies applicable to many curriculum areas and pieces of literature. Explains how such strategies were used to explore a Chinese folk tale in a 45-minute session with second graders. (RS)

Describes an alternative, holistic vocabulary strategy for students with limited English proficiency that draws high-frequency words from a variety of literary publications, then recycles that vocabulary in reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities. (SR)

Describes Suzanne Fisher Staples' young-adult novel "Haveli." Presents two passages from it as read-alouds. Suggests class activities related to the book as a means of discussing cultural diversity and differing attitudes towards literacy in other cultures. (SR)

Describes an exercise for grade school through high school students that focuses on describing abstract emotions through allegory. Notes that some examples include hate, depression, happiness, and patriotism. Provides examples of student writing from prior trials of this exercise. (PA)

Describes activities to enhance multicultural awareness for high school journalism students. Provides step-by-step instructions for 15 exercises. Presents the issues raised, the goal, and an example of each exercise. (PA)

Describes how second graders (in a bilingual class in which many of the students were nonreaders at the start of the school year) wrote and presented, over the course of the school year, their own Readers Theatre. (SR)

Describes a project that helps teachers introduce the concept of mass production in the elementary classroom. Provides instructions for the activity in which students produce "buses" made of juice containers and brown paper on an assembly line. (JOW)

Describes how a school "lending library" of portable "notebook" microcomputers has successfully augmented the computers in the school computer laboratory (used primarily for computer-assisted instruction) and has added several dimensions to student and teacher use in the classroom as well as enabling teachers and students to…

Describes four teaching activities to help children extend math problem-solving skills by using their own questions. Activities involve using a chart and symbols to develop equations adding up to 12, going on an imaginary shopping trip, using shapes to represent dollar amounts, using the date on a penny to engage in various mathematical…

Discusses Milton Meltzer's recent contribution to historical nonfiction, "Cheap Raw Material," which documents the long, horrifying history of the ritualized abuse of children through child labor practices. Appends questions to stimulate student response to the book. (RS)

Presents annotations of 13 conference papers, books, and journal articles (published between 1988 and 1992) that serve as a starting point for an integrated study or writing unit exploring the use of oral narratives to link language and literacy. (RS)