Professor Peter Smagorinsky argues that it is time teachers gave up on the idea of best practice in the teaching of English, and the author tends to agree. At the same time, the author differs on certain points. Smagorinsky's premise is based on the idea that all teacher practices have been enculturated through the various experiences, people, and…

This article presents the author's reflection on Statement 4 of the Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE) "Statements of Belief". The statements attempt to outline beliefs about what might form the most important work of Australian English teachers. The author explores Statement 4, which heralds: "We are…

In this article, I argue that 9th-grade English can be a fertile environment for demonstrating that students who come to high school with diverse skill levels and from racially and socioeconomically diverse communities can learn with and from each other. It is not enough, however, that the 9th-grade English teacher believes that all students can…

In this article, the author deals with a screenplay adaptation assignment that he gave to his students. The purpose is to make readers out of some students who don't like to read, and to teach them something about film as an art form. He starts with a film entitled, "Ernest Hemingway's Soldier's Home." He used it because of the technical…

The efforts of a ninth grade teacher Dotie Hyatt are reviewed as she struggles to work within the school district's expectations to meet the needs of her students. Various problems and needs of students are mentioned.