With five basic exercises presented in this paper as a guide, instructors and students can gain an immediate awareness of the performance and staging principles in Reader's Theatre which may be used creatively to visualize literature so that it becomes "alive" in the imagination of the readers as well as the listener. The paper begins…

Intended as a guide to reduce negative stress in children, this book suggests relaxation and meditation techniques to help children cope with stressful events. Part 1 provides an introduction to the format of the book. Part 2 contains summaries of the 10 sessions that make up the program. Each session has six sequential stages in which students…

These six issues of the periodical offer teachers and tutors practical ideas for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to adults. The publications include such teaching activities as multilevel crossword puzzles, multilevel dictation, a grammar grab-bag, role play games, an ESL board game, and a newspaper search activity. They also offer…

Extending the idea of business cards to the literature classroom, this lesson plan discusses having students make business cards for characters and authors. During two 50-minute lessons, students will: identify appropriate symbols that relate to their authors or characters; interact with classmates to give and receive feedback; and explore how…

By making simple bookmarks, students in grades 6-8 practice summarizing, recognizing symbols, and writing reviews in these two 50-minute class sessions--all while writing for an authentic audience. Student objectives for this lesson are that they will: write summaries and reviews for books they read; identify appropriate symbols that relate to…

This lesson uses artworks as inspiration for narrative writing: students in grades 6-8 will have the chance to think critically about their interpretations of the events in an image and to write a story that tells background on the image or extends details on what has happened. During two 50-minute lessons, students will: demonstrate knowledge of…

Based on the work of theorists Dewey, Piaget, Vygotsky, Feuerstein, Gardner, and Diamond, this paper presents the constructivist or brain compatible classroom as illustrated by descriptions of classroom activities of students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The paper explores how teachers, the "new architects of the intellect,"…

Listening to stories can expand children's knowledge, provide sheer enjoyment, and help children understand their world and how people relate to each other in it. This book compiles tips and suggestions from expert storytellers and teachers, and shows teachers and parents how to capture children's attention and imagination using simple, creative…

For both reading and writing, context and perspective are everything; Ann Berthoff suggests that students "write continuously in a double-entry notebook." One instructor has utilized Berthoff's double-entry notebook in a technical writing class and finds that this classroom practice has also been informed by other theories inquiring into…

This performance guide is designed for teachers to use with students before and after a performance of "Little Women," adapted for the stage by Paulette Laufer and based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. The guide, called a "Cuesheet," contains seven activity sheets for use in class, addressing: (1) From Novel to Stage Play…

Although children often receive classroom opportunities to retell and summarize information, they must also learn how to critically examine what they read. Critical reading of multiethnic literature helps children develop understanding, respect, and value for the diverse cultures and people in the world. This paper discusses the value of…

This book offers integrated activities in which students explore words and, at the same time, develop their language arts and thinking skills. The book states that this way teachers can pay more attention to word study, without sacrificing other parts of the English curriculum and without resorting to word lists and memorization. In the first…

The language of drama (movement, sound, and energy) is as old as drama itself. Its place within a multiliteracies framework needs to be articulated because drama is another medium that can be used to help students interpret and communicate the meanings of themes in narrative texts (Pascoe, 1999; Wagner, 1998). The process of enactment enables…

This guide assists English-as-a-Second-Language educators in helping students fill out simple application forms. The guide discusses performance outcomes, communications teaching points, SCANS (Secretary's Committee on Achieving Necessary Skills) competencies, classroom configurations, materials, and procedures. Blank forms, suitable for…

The "Goldfinch" is a magazine that introduces young children to different aspects of Iowa history. Each issue contains articles to provide in-depth knowledge of a topic about Iowa. The focus of this issue is "Iowa Festivals." Hard work, fun, and the opportunity to raise money for community projects are all a part of organizing…