Describes a writing assignment in which students read only the first two paragraphs of Charles Dickens's novel "A Tale of Two Cities" and then, after some brainstorming and prewriting, write a paragraph or two modeled on those, explaining the confusion and turmoil of the present day. Notes how Dickens's expressions become more familiar…

Describes an integrated English/science curriculum wrapped around environmental issues and aimed at establishing collaboration among students. (CCM)

Offers a classroom vignette illustrating how students learn through story. Focuses on 10-year-old Brad and the role literature discussion played in enabling him to work through the death of his grandfather. (SR)

Discusses a five-day Holocaust lesson based around Robert O. Fisch's memoir "Light from the Yellow Star: A Lesson of Love from the Holocaust." Describes class activities as students responded to Fisch's artwork, to his narrative text, living history, living prejudice, and genocide. Concludes that the memoir is an invaluable testimony and…

Describes ways short story collections can be integrated into the English curriculum, including a short story fair, a short story hunt, using single short stories to extend a unit, using a short story by itself, using a collection as a whole, and using short stories as part of a focus on writing. Offers a list of short story resources. (SR)

Describes how a high school English teacher went looking for and found Mexican-, Filipino-, African-, European-, and Native-American Literature, in order to bring all her students' worlds and voices into the classroom. Argues that all students must be included in an education that socializes them to a multicultural rather than a monocultural…

Argues that the prohibition against the comma splice has no logical basis whatsoever, and offers numerous examples. Maintains that English teachers should relax prohibitions against comma splices, accept that usage is flexible, and allow students a freedom which more confident writers take for granted. (SR)

"Differentiating Instruction With Menus Grades 3-5" offers teachers everything they need to create a student-centered learning environment based on choice. Addressing the four main subject areas (language arts, math, science, and social studies) and the major concepts taught within these areas, these books provide a number of different types of…

Noting that teachers' ultimate goal for their students is that they begin to apply strategies on their own and learn how to be independent, strategic, successful learners, this book presents numerous activities, strategies, and ideas to help students of all learning abilities in grades 1 through 5 become independent learners. The guide was…

Guidelines are provided to assist teachers of grade 3 French immersion pupils in developing a concentrated English language arts program which will enable pupils to attain competency in the essential basic skills. The introduction of English language arts into the early French immersion program represents the pupils' first encounter with formal…

The 14 units in this book are designed to help teachers and librarians motivate children to express emotions, pantomime characters, and create a full story environment through puppetry and creative dramatics. Each unit is built around a specific piece of literature, and each provides instructions for the educator concerning the necessary…

Suggestions for using puppets in the classroom are the focus of this how-to-do-it piece by a participant in a Title I elementary school project. Although originally designed as a language arts unit on reading and vocabulary development, the activities described could be adapted for other teaching objectives. Seven aspects of the puppetry project…

By giving assignments to children in a field that inquires into the nature of language use, teachers can help enhance their total language development and sensitivity to language. To be most effective, such projects should involve children working interactively in groups; should require considerable time to complete and involve the solving of…

Describes assignment sequence introducing secondary school students to finding and interpreting quotes from assigned literature by having students (1) respond in journals to a quotation chosen by the teacher, (2) analyze characterization by illustrating character traits with quotations, (3) create a collage or mobile visually interpreting quote,…

Presents four fully developed library media activities designed to be used in conjunction with specific curriculum units in reading/language arts and science. Objectives, curriculum objectives, resources, instructional roles, activities and procedures for completion, evaluation, and followup are described for each activity. (MES)