Describes the lessons that can be learned from the recent history of assessment in the English language arts. Considers the possible future uses to which assessment might be put in the near future. Explores the assessment activities of the National Assessment of Educational Progress over the past several years. (HB)

Considers the benefits and impact that come from reading texts aloud with other persons. Provides a plan by which partners can read books together aloud. Claims that this is a vital and habit-forming activity. (HB)

Examines the good fortune that marks the career of writing teachers. Shows how creative writing activities stimulate and inspire writing teachers. Includes five poems written by the author. (HB)

Provides an overview of how current theories of postmodernism might inform and influence the practice of English teachers in the classroom. Provides an annotated bibliography of five central theoretical works. (HB)

Suggests that teaching Vietnam literature to adolescents can undermine a teacher's desire to implant in students a resistance to war. Narrates the experiences of one English teacher who was disappointed to find students attracted to war. Discusses a number of works of Vietnam literature. (HB)

Describes a method ("buddy book journals") of encouraging independent reading among students. Outlines the activity, in which students select partners with whom they read and study a particular book. Argues that this method is an excellent means of generating thoughtful response to literature. (HB)

Presents five responses from practicing teachers to the question, "How do you incorporate commercial and/or public television in your English curriculum?" (HB)

Argues an English curriculum infused with multicultural literature and perspectives will not cause the educational and social outcomes attributed to it. The crux of the problem is to help students acquire, from their own experience with literature, a greater desire for literature. Suggests desire to read can be stimulated by a thoughtful…

Argues for a richer, more varied English Instruction experience for "vocational track" students. Suggests several methods for creating a more powerful vocational/English curriculum. Concludes that it is not the place of any teacher or school to decide what kinds of literacy students will or will not need or want in their futures. (SG)

A high school teacher transformed her classroom environment by creating space to learn with the students in a research project. The inquiry-based learning engaged the students' attention by showing how pertinent it is to their lives, increasing their confidence, critical thinking and also changed the way the students saw themselves.

Using the Bicentennial theme, a literature course is described that studies nationalistic developments in various ethnic groups. (JH)

English teachers should give most attention to counteracting the tendency for public language to become an unreliable instrument of communication. (JH)

All students enrolled in media courses gained in creativity. (JH)