Developed and field-tested by an English teacher using a group of at-risk, urban high-school students, this book shows how to create a constructivist, or student-centered, approach to teaching English--one that encourages critical thinking. The book shows educators how to develop new and effective teaching units and includes reproducible worksheets, selected reading, and examples of student work. The sample units in the book are designed to be flexible, enabling educators to adapt them to their special classroom needs. The first part of the book, "The Cocreative Classroom," discusses teaching "with"--instead of "to"--students; teachers' concerns; developing student-centered curriculum; and instructional procedures and student guidelines. The second part of the book presents five thematic instructional units on sex roles, power, and identity; racism; education; "the streets"; and "the hero." Contains 43 references to works cited for instructors' use and 141 references to works cited in instructional units. (RS)