Authors take a new look at composition, spelling, and handwriting skills on a nationwide basis in the elementary schools and report on the current situation. (GB)

Writing skills can be reinforced when students work together to create a classroom novel. Examples of how a language arts class developed a character by brainstorming, then wrote and revised their story to be shared with others, are given. (DF)

A teacher discovers the Teddy Bear as something common to her first graders' backgrounds and uses it as a motivator for a creative language arts program. (Author/RK)

Discusses oral language experiences designed to help young students develop their conversational skills and prescribes writing exercises to help students think logically and sequentially so they can write clear, concise, honest prose. (Author/RK)

This article describes a variety of language arts activities for the classroom that can be done without duplicating masters. Children use materials such as the newspaper, telephone book, and advice columns for creative writing activities. (DF)

Interactive language arts homework helps parents and children come together on activities they enjoy. The article presents a project in which students interview their parents on hairstyles from their youth, write a paragraph about the subject, then follow up with class activities. Includes a questionnaire form for students to give their parents.…