Advocates teaching lesser known plays from different historical periods and teaching popular contemporary plays in addition to the plays traditionally included in drama anthologies. (MKM)

Discusses drama in English in light of what actually happens in the classroom. Claims drama is valuable when discussed as a separate, autonomous subject in the school curriculum as opposed to one subsumed within English. Emphasizes the primacy of performance in drama education. (NH)

Discusses the quality and value to students of recent Broadway plays. Noting that dramatic output is limited in size and content, recommends the use of an international English-language repertory for the education of young students. Cites British, Australian, Canadian, Caribbean, African and South African authors. (JG)

Considers the relationship between drama and writing. Presents a conversation between two scholars interested in this connection in which they describe various views of the relationship. Suggests classroom activities linking drama and writing. (HB)

Describes one teacher's methods for introducing to secondary English students the concepts of improvisation, experimentation, and innovation. Discusses numerous techniques for fostering such skills when working with William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." (HB)

Discusses the value of teaching and producing contemporary plays as well as classics in high school. Argues for the superior interest level of challenging, low-budget, relevant dramas recently appearing on the young adult scene, such as those by Jerome McDonough and Hindi Brooks. Includes an annotated bibliography of young adult drama. (JG)

Claims that high school curricula should provide opportunities for students to vicariously explore the relationships, roles, and ideas that appear in Shakespearean drama. Uses the dilemma dramatized in "Hamlet" as an example. (JD)

Presents one teacher's experience of organizing and producing a high school theatrical group specializing in performances for younger children. Describes recruitment of students, writing the script, rehearsals, performances, and student feedback. Argues that such an undertaking is English education at its best.(HB)

Outlines a method of teaching literature in which both students and teachers are asked to enter a fictional world through role playing. Provides a specific example of how the approach might be implemented with a short story. Concludes with reasons why the method is effective. (HB)

Describes how one teacher follows up a unit on Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" with a study of the contemporary film, "Steel Magnolias." Argues that both pieces celebrate the joys of life and that the film helps balance what is missing in the play. (HB)

Considers the literary achievement of William Shakespeare and specifically why he continues to hold such an honored and sanctified position in the literary canon. Proposes a theoretically informed, politically aware pedagogy by which Shakespeare might be more usefully taught. (HB)

Examines the issue of breaking administration rules against certain kinds of school assemblies. Describes how one teacher was able to perform an original play under such restrictions. Presents the responses of students, the teacher, and administrators after the play was successfully performed. (HB)

Describes a teacher's experience teaching sixth grade drama in Britain, where drama is viewed as distinct from literature and stresses role playing. Outlines particular improvisation activities, scriptwriting projects, approaches to class discussion, and the use of dramatic activities to teach other subjects. (JG)

High school students in vocational education programs can be challenged in their English classes with more than a basic diet of programmed instruction, worksheets, and tests. In between the drill and the practice required to strengthen communication skills there should be activities designed to motivate and encourage students to think beyond their…

The reviews of instructional materials in this focused journal are arranged into the following sections: extended reviews, writing and reading, source books and course books, fiction, poetry, drama, computers and media, and reference books. (HOD)