Suggestions are offered to elementary school teachers for more effective bulletin boards, which encourage hands-on manipulation, reinforce a wide spectrum of concepts and learning skills, provide visual confirmation for learning, and encourage student creativity and hard work. Examples are provided from social studies and language arts. (DB)

Discusses ways to encourage children to write original poetry and provides samples of student works. Over a 10-week period introduced children to 3 types of poems: noisy poems (focusing on noises and sounds related to the topic), poems for 2 voices (dialog poems written in 2 vertical columns), and free poetry (poetry without rhyme or meter). (MDM)

Reviews three videodisc programs that enhance content integration with real-world skills: (1) "The Adventures of Jasper Woodbury," a math program for middle schoolers; (2) "Channel R.E.A.D.," a reading skills program for third through eighth graders; and (3) "Perfect Copy," a copy-editing program for grade four and up. (MDM)

Discusses what happens when students and teachers are encouraged to use multiple ways of knowing in mediating their experiences with the world. Suggests that a good language arts program expands the communication potential of all learners through the orchestration and use of multiple ways of knowing for purposes of ongoing interpretation and…

This article describes a course in ancient Egyptian studies for gifted elementary students. The course incorporates social studies, science, math, language, reading/writing, and art activities. Students study history and development of Egyptian culture, reading and writing with glyphs, and analyzing and evaluating Egyptian hieroglyphic writing.…

Describes and evaluates the Integrated Assessment System, an extensive and flexible language arts assessment system designed to help teachers assess reading and writing skills using genuine, process-oriented, holistic reading and writing tasks. (SR)

Illustrates how teachers can use flexible grouping to help all children experience success in reading and writing. Notes that, because flexible grouping is relatively new, more research will need to be conducted to further clarify its strengths and weaknesses. (PRA)

Focuses on a technique called "Early Recollection of Reading and Writing" (ERRW) that provides teachers with the knowledge needed to help unlock and develop a student's potential in reading and writing. Presents the technique's theoretical basis and practical application and illustrates the critical role that this technique can play in…

Discusses the current state of alternative assessment programs, focusing on results of studies the authors conducted in two school districts. Shares implications for policy and for curriculum and instruction. (MG)

Describes several types of literature-based language arts programs, and addresses major issues related to implementing such programs. Specifies the most significant characteristics of successful programs: those related to the classroom and the school, those related to the teacher and parent/caregiver, and those within the learner. Presents some…

Presents a 17-item annotated bibliography of items (published between 1990 and 1992) from the ERIC database concerning the use of portfolios in reading and language arts. (SR)

Presents annotations of 12 books, conference papers, and other materials concerning the reading/writing connection, literature-based reading, and whole language. (RS)

Discusses evaluating resources for integrating science and social studies with the language arts by using questions that teacher-reviewers used when evaluating those resources. Reviews trade books and other resources designed for the integration of science and social studies. (MG)

Describes how one high school English teacher used humor when teaching Shakespearean tragedy. Describes how this improved students' attitudes and appreciation of the tragedies, helped them appreciate literature devices in the plays, and helped them review prior to their exam. (SR)

Describes how high school students can give J. Alfred Prufrock (from T.S. Eliot's serious poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock") a "makeover" so he can acquire more self-confidence. Shows how this makeover exercise can lead students to a deeper general understanding and appreciation of complex literary characters and of a…