Suggesting that the United States' dominant form of literacy is contingent and historical, not permanent and absolute, this book asserts that when a society changes its definition of literacy, it also changes its models of mind and its models for teaching English. The book challenges the assumption that the public schools are a failure, arguing…

Challenged spellers in middle and high school are hit with a "triple whammy." They cannot spell, traditional strategies do not help them, and poor spelling often inhibits their writing. This book offers teachers ways to identify students' problems within the context of writing and the appropriate strategies to correct them in regular…

This summary reviews the rationale for defining English language arts standards for K-12 students and the perspective on language learning that informs them. After presenting 2 of the 12 standards and discussing them briefly, the summary provides a vignette to illustrate how the standards might be manifested in a classroom setting. (RS)

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) must take steps to ensure that proposals for reform in literacy education are based on the best research, theory, and practice of teaching as well as on the perceived needs of the public and press. NCTE members can take steps to advise legislators and school board members of some of the…

This book constitutes the first comprehensive overview of service-learning in composition studies and should be of particular interest to educators at the high school through university levels who want to combine writing instruction with community action. In the book college-level case studies are woven into discussions of how service-learning…

This book describes standards for the English language arts and defines what K-12 students should know about language and be able to do with language. The book presents the current consensus among literacy teachers and researchers about what students should learn in the English language arts--reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and…

These four issues of the English Leadership Quarterly represent those published during 1992. Articles in number 1 deal with testing assessing, and measuring student performance, and include: "Real Evaluation: Portfolios as an Effective Alternative to Standardized Testing" (Kate Kiefer); "No More Objective Tests, Ever" (Carol…

Eastern Michigan University's opportunity program for underprepared students, called the Promote Academic Survival and Success (PASS) program, is described. The improvement of the students' reading and writing skills was emphasized. This was seen as the most direct way for the students' to achieve academic competence and self-integration. (MLW)

These curriculum materials have been designed to help upper elementary students in England make a successful start at secondary school. These transition units consist of one unit involving 10 lessons at the end of Year 6 and a second unit of six lessons at the beginning of Year 7. The units use teaching objectives drawn from the primary and Key…

Uses a case study to describe how to help students discover the subjective nature of language habits and patterns of thought. (MKM)

Contains representative selections from issues of "Elementary English," a precursor to "Language Arts," from its fifth decade of publication. Includes articles, editorials, and ads reflecting contemporary concerns of English education still relevant today, such as literacy, the increasing interrelationship between politics and…

Presents a list of topics, reading assignments, and an outline for a survey course on reading and literacy. (RL)

Resounding with passion for teaching, learning, and writing as well as for the personal influences in a life of teaching, learning, and writing, this book encourages high school and higher education teachers to look beyond the tried and accepted. At the same time it offers concrete ideas to attempt with students--alternate style maneuvers,…

Provides suggestions to promote English literacy to students with hearing impairments in residential environments. Strategies include model reading and writing, read to children regularly and in American Sign Language, set up a writing center, encourage book sharing, set up a home library/reading center, and encourage ownership of books. (CR)

Noting that the achievements of boys have been the subject of growing concern in England for a number of years, this booklet indicates some ways to improve the achievement of boys in literacy. The booklet focuses on work in secondary schools and is based on visits to 14 mixed secondary schools in urban, suburban, and rural areas. It begins with a…