Provides a writing assignment that introduces the use of an invention heuristic to students of middle school age. Illustrates the use of the assignment with the prewriting and in-class essay of a nine-year-old student. (RL)

Reports on the positive outcomes that resulted from implementing a competency program in writing at a high school. (RL)

Describes an experiential lesson plan for using garden snails in secondary English. Shows how the observation of snails can be tied into reading, writing, and dramatics activities. (DF)

Updates an earlier article by suggesting new ERIC resources of practical classroom use to teachers of speakers of nonstandard dialects. (DD)

Describes a writing course for undermotivated students which focuses on careful precise observations through the study of other time periods in the history of the town where the school is located. (DD)

Describes a game which can be used to acquaint students with the basic elements of narrative fiction. (DD)

Argues that, like high school teachers, college teachers also teach every day and feel like they are "in the trenches." Notes that, although college teachers and high school teachers operate in different settings, they are both teachers. Suggests that college teachers and high school teachers can and should talk to each other. (RS)

Argues that recent teaching strategies geared toward improving student writing through positive reinforcement have resulted in mediocre writing products. Suggests that mechanics be given the same value as content in the evaluation process. (KEH)

Joseph M. Shosh, an English teacher, has shown the way in which he made writing as a central part in a drama class to build critical literacy. He describes writing tasks like creating scenes from personal observations and using acting journals as well as writing projects that are necessarily involved with play production.

Procedures are suggested for helping students to revise their papers. (JH)

Since efforts to purify usage are fruitless, students should be taught to deal with the meanings in language as it is used.