In this article, I critique a component of the highly structured Open Court Reading curriculum designed to teach elementary children "inquiry and higher-order thinking" skills. The intended outcome of this component is, I argue, the production of critically literate and informed consumers of information. However, both the critical…

Contains a response to an earlier article in the May/June 1996 issue of this journal which weaves into the Texas story references to apparent failures in California. Presents a corrective version of the challenges faced by public schools in California. (TB)

A comprehensive character education program produces students who understand moral character and incorporate this knowledge in their actions. California advocates coursework in history, the social sciences, and language arts that connects students to political, social, and ethical issues central to our society. Cites examples of projects in four…

Vocabulary acquisition is a critical component of academic language. This aspect of the school curriculum seems to be more difficult for language learners to acquire. This study therefore examines the language arts conceptual framework and the instructional activities for vocabulary development in a second grade mixed classroom with a view to…

Examines California's English-Language Arts Framework, a literacy policy for schoolchildren, focusing on its effects on deaf students and suggesting that it has problems. The article highlights the mismatch between stated policy and its implementation at the teacher training level, discussing literacy policy at the preservice level. (SM)