This guide is intended to assist curriculum committees and instructors by defining some existing problems in language arts curricula (K-12) and by offering insights into a few major curricula in use around the country. Sections deal with (1) reasons for and methods of effecting curriculum change, (2) requirements to be made of students, (3) the choice between a spiral and a strand curriculum, (4) language-based curricula, (5) literature-based curricula, (6) composition-based curricula, and (7) a brief review of sample curricula. (LH)