Lawrence Central High School (LHS) is a suburban school near Indianapolis, Indiana, that implemented in 1998-1999 an extensive remediation program to increase the passing rates of their students taking the state's mandated competency examination, the Indiana State Testing for Education Progress (ISTEP) examinations. The number of students in the…

A team of field researchers studied exemplary language arts teachers in Dade County, Florida (a high school that is 99% minority, but with strong administrative support from the Dade County's Division of Language Arts/Reading) and examined the contexts that lead to thought-provoking learning in English classes and the professional contexts that…

A case study introduced Cathy Starr, a seventh grade language arts teacher in a school known for its excellence in English/language arts instruction, and described a two year in-depth research and observation study on how Starr teaches language arts and what influences her professional life has on her approach and instruction. Hudson Middle…

The paper examines an assessment method for measuring students' writing performance. Does Primary Trait Scoring reliably and validly accomplish the administrative, instructional, and evaluative purposes of the writing assessment? The Primary Trait Scoring guide has a few underlying principles: identification of qualities of effective writing;…

Considers to what degree student teachers use principles and methods from their university-based methods class in their student teaching experiences. Explores the student teaching experience in secondary English through case studies of four students from the methods class. Reveals that the methods class and the methods professor matter, as do the…

Reports the results of a year-long program incorporating intensive journalistic writing into Advanced Placement English courses. Notes that most students who took the course received high scores on the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition test, and that all students in the course improved their writing. (MM)

Describes three basic variations on the process approach to teaching writing witnessed while observing over 300 secondary English teachers: the "classic" process approach, the "antigrammarian" approach, and the "five paragraph" approach. Argues that the idea of error must be allowed back into the classroom, and that lockstep allegiance to a set of…

Examines whether gender played a role in the peer-revision process in an English classroom. Discusses findings regarding how gender influences the peer-revision process, how this has increased the teacher's sense of responsibility to both her male and female students, and how this knowledge can be used to improve peer-revision practice. (SR)

Offers a case study of three 11th-grade students who viewed tapes of their class discussions and commented on their own involvement. Argues that students are silent for wide-ranging reasons; that students who are quiet may be learning; and that teachers should consider multiple means to spur students' thinking. Lists ways to help students speak…

Examines text and pictorial representations of the Inuit in juvenile reference books and in geographical and historical juvenile non-fiction works. Finds continuing prevalence of a wide range of stereotypes. Identifies strengths and weaknesses of a variety of such representations, aided by a discussion group of Inuit people. (SR)

Investigates techniques of highly effective teachers of Year 12 English in New South Wales, Australia. Concludes that successful teachers saw themselves as operating in positive school environments and overwhelmingly saw themselves as functioning as part of a team. Notes they used a range of teaching strategies, but emphasized having students…

Analyzes a small group of 12th-grade students who interpreted the character of Gertrude in "Hamlet" through a "body biography," a life-sized human outline filled with student-generated words and images. Concludes with a reconsideration of the notion of engagement that includes attention to both the immediate social relations…

Compares English programs in schools that were "Beating the Odds" (that is, whose students were performing unusually well on locally important tests when compared with students in schools serving similar populations) with English programs whose students were performing more typically. Discusses five features of the successful programs. (SG)

Primary school teachers in England are increasingly pressurised to teach literacy following structures and programmes, making sure pupils are confident with a range of genres before they reach secondary school. However, there is a need to find successful ways in which genre can be taught in authentic contexts where teachers and students feel…

Offering differentiated courses to cater for a wide range of ability can lead to "dumbing down" when brighter students choose easier courses, which they can handle well without undue effort. This occurred when differentiated English courses were introduced in the senior secondary certificate in the state of New South Wales (NSW) in…