Curriculum change is usually haphazard and externally motivated. (JH)

Suggests how English departments and teachers can humanize the use of computer technology in the teaching of literacy. Asserts that computer support of English programs will only succeed with a humanistic vision of computer technology. (MM)

Describes a high school project to encourage creative writing across the curriculum by designating a "Publications Coordinator," whose job is to help fledgling writers by keeping track of opportunities available for publication and generally aiding young writers. (NKA)

Discusses how English teachers can work with other departments to promote interdisciplinary approaches to teaching. Describes sharing writing labs; producing television news reports; engaging in a school-wide theme week; an "academic" Olympic Games; vocabulary exercises in the social studies classes; mock trials; and a team-taught social…

Despite many shortcomings, elective programs seem to do good things for students and teachers. (JH)

Argues that the IRA/NCTE (International Reading Association/National Council of Teachers of English) standards should provide a starting point for both local and national discussions of what it means to have standards, what effects standards can have, and how to go about developing them. Offers a set of questions that teachers might consider…

Focuses on the changing relationships between males and females in the National Council of Teachers of English from its inception to the present. Discusses changing relationships between the sexes in English departments, including graduate students and faculty. Describes differing approaches to the job of teaching, and recommends in general giving…

Teachers and administrators can help make sustainable educational improvements in high schools. By being systematically reflective about teaching and learning and seeing themselves collectively as agents of change in the interest of academic quality and excellence. The English teachers at Trenton Public School District, New Jersey, have created…

Argues that computer technology has decentered high school English teachers. Describes a private high school with full computer access for every student; addresses issues this raises in the English department; describes three cyber activities used in the author's American literature classroom; and discusses the advantages of this decentralization.…

The comprehensive approach to balanced literacy mandate relies on teachers understanding of the skills and strategies that reading and writing demands. State and city departments of education must look for ways to learn from the voices of English language art teachers.

Describes the writing evaluation of an 11th-grade English class in which precourse and postcourse samples are graded by a team of English teachers. (EL)

This checklist is designed to assist English teachers and departments in analyzing and evaluating their current programs. It is divided into four parts: (1) the basic organization and procedures of the English program (25 criteria), (2) the physical provisions for English instruction, both facilities and equipment (11 criteria) and materials (2…