This article honors Kathy G. Short, who has been awarded NCTE's Outstanding Educator in the English Language Arts award for 2011. Kathy's scholarly achievements as a lifelong inquirer, teacher, and mentor are featured in this article, celebrating her national and international influence in the field of literacy education. (Contains 1 figure.)

This article is an historical study of the understanding of children's writing through "Language Arts". The author and her research team did a content analysis of articles about writing that appeared in "Language Arts" beginning in 1924 through January, 2010. Analysis shows that a major area of tension throughout the history of…

This article is a tribute to JoBeth Allen, recipient of the Elementary Section's 2012 award for Outstanding Educator in the English Language Arts. Each year, this award recognizes a distinguished educator who has made major contributions to the field of language arts in elementary education. This article was written by second-grade teacher and…

During the 2004-05 school year, Parkview Elementary School experienced a dramatic shift from a focus on authentic assessment and responsive, individualized teaching to a one-size-fits-all approach to literacy assessment and instruction. In an effort to boost test scores, the district mandated the use of Open Court Reading, a scripted language arts…

Explores the emergence of the elementary section of the National Council of Teachers of English, noting how its occasional isolation and specific language have not diminished its influence in the Council's mission. (HTH)

To benefit rather than suffer from language, we must keep it in its place, in balance with other functions of the organism. (DD)

Illustrates the variety of materials available in the ERIC system, from lesson plans and teaching guides to classroom games and descriptions of individualized activities, for planning language arts lessons. (DD)

Comments on the ability of fantasy to evoke images, the validity of fantasy, and influence of fantasy. (DD)

Looks theoretically at the topic of authenticity, arguing that it is important to get beneath labels and the surface of classroom activities in order to create instruction that is authentic. Uses hermeneutics to examine authenticity as a perspective to help think through important issues. (SR)

Discusses beliefs about language arts standards of members of the Elementary Section Steering Committee of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Discusses key assumptions underlying the International Reading Association/NCTE language arts standards and relates to a cycle of learning. (SR)

Hearing, listening, and auding are the three components of the listening process, and problems with any of these may impair students' listening ability. (DD)

Explores the potential of teacher research for informing theory. Contends that arguments about the perspectives of researchers and teachers are founded upon positivistic assumptions undergirding particular views of research as well as definitions of researcher and teacher. Encourages collaborative researchers to examine the philosophical bases of…

Discusses four basic trends in children's literature that reflect four possible ways of viewing childhood: the mythic, the didactic, the Rousseauvian, and the nihilistic. (DD)

Recommends that in reading and English language arts accountability not be imposed on classroom teachers of black children at this time. (DD)