Noting that teaching requires more than just knowledge of one's subject, this book analyzes the host of variables that affect the quality of English instruction and offers an "organic field model" of classroom English instruction. Following an introduction by Bruce Appleby, Chair of the Conference on English Education, the first chapter of the book presents the model, which shows how the "content"--the substance, skills, and processes of English--interacts with the "context" of teaching--factors such as class size, parental and community attitudes, socioeconomic status, the teacher's personality and background, and the philosophy of school administrators. The remaining four chapters illustrate the subtle ways that context governs the teacher's classroom options, as follows: (1)"Research on Teaching: Presage Variables" (William H. Peters); (2) "The Context Variable of the Organic Field Model" (Faye Louise Grindstaff); (3) "Research on Teaching Products and Processes" (Miles C. Olson); and (4) "Teacher Effectiveness Research: Inferences for In-Service and Staff Development" (Richard L. Hanzelka). (HTH)