A high school teacher sought to interest her English class in literature by developing a curriculum that included popular movies. After eliciting students' reactions to the films, she helped them list the criteria for film quality. She investigated the reasons for their opinions to help them develop critical thinking skills. (SM)

A high school English teacher inquired into how small writing groups could best be used in the classroom to promote good writing. His students designed the inquiry, generating and selecting 12 questions for a final survey. Students asked cogent questions and gave provocative answers that greatly enhanced their writing. (SM)

Presents five teachers' narratives about their learning experiences during sabbatical leaves funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities/Reader's Digest Teacher-Scholars program. Stresses insights to be incorporated into their teaching methods in English and Black literature, children's literature, Chinese culture, and the history of the…

A high school English teacher used Foxfire principles to teach two classes, one with students who lacked successful school experiences and one with students who had more success in school but needed structured environments. Students became more active participants in learning through positive learning experiences, forging bonds with the teacher.…

To find out what lesson plans formats were most useful to novices, five elementary and seven secondary student-teachers in English and history were asked to modify traditional linear formats according to their needs and to document their experimentation during student teaching. Also compares planning needs of elementary/secondary novices.…

Describes a project involving cooperative learning and learning centers with eighth grade students. Outlines the procedures used and describes the learning centers that were implemented. Discusses how these approaches provide a balance of individual and teacher-directed learning with interactive and activity-based experiences. (MG)

Comparison of college students with learning disabilities who either graduated (n=23) or did not graduate (n=17) from college found that the two groups differed on frequency of self-contained placement, duration of private tutoring, high school English courses, and age and prior college experience at college entrance. Gender differences were also…

Describes how elementary and secondary students use computers to create prequels to videos shown in their English classes. Discusses how the activity promotes critical thinking, predictive viewing, reading, and writing skills. (MG)

Examines the kinds of instruction that foster student engagement with literature and the effects of such instruction on achievement. Describes the manifestations of procedural and substantive forms of engagements, explains how they relate differently to student outcomes, and offers some empirical propositions using data on literature instruction…

Discusses a theme-based project (third in a four-part series from the California Academy of Mathematics and Science) provoking critical thinking concerning meeting human needs through technology. Notes that students were "transported" back into the Middle Ages and had to raise money for their travel back to the future using science, mathematics,…

Describes teaching strategies, including science activities, for challenging students' misconceptions about turtles and helping limited-English-proficiency students enhance their language proficiency. (PR)

Analyzes the adjustments and changes that have evolved from the inception of a pilot portfolio program through the fifth semester of its implementation in a developmental English class. The program allows for authentic, performance-based assessment and challenges students to assume more control of their writing. Asserts that the final portfolio…

Examines understanding of the British National Curriculum for English at Key Stage 2. Surveys literature and teachers' experiences to determine what primary teachers understand by English subject knowledge, how they think it should be taught, and how they think pupils learn English most effectively. Considers definition of basic skills and the…

Describes the author's experience when the director and teacher-trainers of a writing program persuaded him that the oral interpretation he wished them to perform was too troubling and explosive to use. Outlines his questions and anguish about the incident, and the urgency of dealing with the dilemmas of multiculturalism, racial intolerance, and…

Describes a project in which students in a college survey class on young adult literature were paired with students in a high school English class in a "buddy journal" project. Shows examples of this writing and of the assignments which used Howard Gardner's concept of multiple intelligences to offer students multiple paths for responding to…