Suggests ways to involve children in recording examples of folklore such as superstitions, folk remedies, proverbs, and games. (DD)

Describes a language arts project which used students' own first names as the project theme. (DD)

Uses anecdotes to illustrate suggestions on how to involve reluctant learners in the study of English. (DD)

Describes the use of some read-alouds from Alexandre Dumas'"The Count of Monte Cristo" which helped to demonstrate some principles of learning foreign languages. Describes briefly the read aloud selection, discusses some specific activities that relate to foreign language learning, and discusses specific language arts activities. (SR)

Established in 1969, the Coretta Scott King Awards, given by the American Library Association were established to honor African American authors and illustrators. Presents nine activities to promote awareness of Coretta Scott King, the Coretta Scott King Awards, and the lives and works of past award winners. Lists and describes winners and honors…

Author/illustrator Pat Cummings talks about drawing, her favorite illustrators, her first book, her work habits, teaching, inspiration, working with other writers, and offers advice to parents, teachers, and children about art. Lists books written and/or illustrated by Cummings, and suggests activities based on her books using art, language arts,…

This poetry workshop has students read Monica Gunning's poem about her childhood in Jamaica, create lists of what they want to know more about, search for and share the information, then find poems from other parts of the world. The Gunning poem and lists of resources are included. (SM)

Discusses approaches for helping upper elementary-age children learn about words through integrated study of spelling, grammar, and meaning. Describes what word study is, discusses word study in an integrated language arts unit (providing several examples), and offers reasons for including word study in a language arts program. (SR)

Proposes that the multigenre assignment is a type of writing that requires more academic skills than the minimal requisites of the traditional research paper. Notes that fostering writing as both an art and a skill demonstrates how multigenre writing can be used to teach critical analysis, documentation of sources, and aesthetic unity. Details the…

Describes a three-week "Introduction to Language" unit for seventh graders. Notes that students feel ownership of the unit because of the amount of choice and sharing involved. Describes the unit's mini-lessons: human language; origins and development of language; symbols and words; meaning in context; and growth and change in language. (RS)

Interviews Joseph Papp, director and founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival. Discusses how to teach Shakespeare to high school students. (MM)

Relates the author's observations of her third- and fourth-grade class as they studied the history of language, inventing primitive languages as part of their study of early man. (MM)

Describes an approach that adds literature and related activities to language arts programs. Emphasizes connections--between ideas in a book and ideas in students' heads, between what they are reading and what they are struggling to write, and among topics. (SR)

Identifies eight resources that help educators extend and enrich the literacy experiences of students through the weaving of drama, music, and the visual arts into responses to literature, writing, and other areas of the curriculum. (RS)

Presents a five-step series of lessons which introduce seventh-grade language arts students to literary criticism and analysis as they progress through a text, moving from surface evaluation to thoughtful analysis. (SR)