Finds that students understand reading and writing as demonstrations of what they know, with the purpose of giving teachers what they want, and the hope of getting an "A." Shows that they begin to believe themselves so incompetent that they no longer enjoy reading and writing; indeed, they read and write as little as possible. (SR)

Describes the confusion and sense of dislocation felt by one Chinese woman who entered the United States to begin graduate studies in English. Narrates how this feeling of dislocation motivated the woman to undertake a search for her "self," a process that shaped her as an individual and as a teacher. (HB)

Outlines the function of the "signifying monkey" in African American oral traditions. Focuses on vernacular discourse and African American personal narratives to discover linguistic and cultural features of African American students. Argues that these identity features be placed at the center of writing instruction for African Americans.…

Describes the Nebraska Literacy Project, a 5-week workshop for K-12 teachers modeled after the Nebraska Writing Project. Shows how teachers can encourage students to look closely at their own literacy histories and their daily practices as readers and writers. Presents the literacy histories as recorded by some participants. (HB)

Suggests that personal writing poses both opportunities and risks in writing classrooms. Discusses the experiences of two children in a fifth/sixth-grade writing process classroom. Notes that benefits of personal writing are opportunities for authenticity, finding voice, and a therapeutic value; whereas risks include coercion of students who are…

Presents "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" as an effective text for the basic writing classroom. Describes how this book affirms literacy skills and charts perceptual growth. Claims that this text is effective in helping students understand the passion and strength of character necessary for any writer's growth. (HB)

Transcribes an interview with Australian geographer Fay Gale conducted in 1997 on the occasion of her retirement. Explores her professional and personal development as well as her views of research, teaching, geography, the problems and prospects for women in academia, and the state of higher education in Australia. (DSK)

Explores the use of narrative to represent individuals' particular experiences and meanings, discussing women teachers' lived experiences; using writer Annie Ernaux's autobiographical texts as a case study; and examining Martha Nussbaum's and Jane Miller's works to argue that discourses constructed through particulars of narrative texts can…

Contributes to scholarship advancing the understanding of human communication by elaborating a theoretical framework for understanding the synthesis of self-definition and social advocacy in social movement autobiographies. Uses insights from Kenneth Burke and posits that in a rhetorically effective movement autobiography, form enables the…

Describes an interdisciplinary course on multicultural autobiographies that integrated psychology and literature, requiring students to examine primary texts using analytical tools from both disciplines. Addresses the outcomes and writing assignments, psychological and literary perspectives on autobiographical texts, the students' responses, and…

Examines the nature of ethnic identity development by analyzing published autobiographical accounts of 39 Asian Americans. Reveals a pattern of exploration and decision-making by the narrators which results in greater understanding and self-identity and greater self-acceptance as a member of an ethnic minority. Discusses implications of these…

Describes a mathematical autobiography as a written history of a person's journey of learning and using mathematics either in or out of the classroom setting. Explores the idea of using mathematics autobiographies to enhance student learning in mathematics. (Contains 11 references). (ASK)

Suggests that feminist studies of the intersection of race and gender have failed to problematize the race consciousness of women of color. Situates debates about the situation historically, focusing on the situation of black women. Argues that feminist studies assume race consciousness among all women of color, revealing race consciousness as an…

Informed by Giddens' (1991) concept of "reflexive life" planning and the notion of later life as a time of increasing social and financial risk, this research explores the idea of "reflexive planning for later life". We utilize a conceptual model that incorporates three types of planning for later life: public protection, self-insurance, and…

Norman Rockwell's Triple Self-Portrait provided the perfect starting point for taking self-conscious teenagers on a personal journey into the intimidating world of introspective art. Asking students to find the three self-portraits in the Rockwell work was an easy way to draw them into painting. From the visual clues and objects meaningfully…