Suggestions are made for classroom activities to improve children's language skills. (JD)

This book uses art to stimulate content-area language development and writing skills. From A to Z, the 81 animal patterns in the book combine with 35 different activities to enhance the primary curriculum--each student gets a photocopy of the pattern, paper, scissors, and some materials to decorate the "critter." The book's activities…

The language arts classroom is largely about leading students to become literate in their own voices and to see writing as a tool for thinking. I come to know my students through their writing and through class discussions about the texts we read and the texts we write. The challenge of good writing instruction is leading students to view their…

Building a railroad or writing about it in class takes a lot of organization. (Editor)

Publishing children's written work in the elementary classroom enables children to see themselves as creators of ideas, as producers of language, and as functioning members of the language community. This paper suggests many forms in which children's writings may be published. Step-by-step explanations and accompanying illustrations tell how to…

Designed for use at school or at home, this book focuses on the development of seven types of literacy: linguistic, visual, mathematical, scientific, geographic, economic, and computer. The book's suggested activities are each introduced with a detailed discussion of the necessary prerequisite skills, the concepts to be mastered, the materials…

Designed for elementary and secondary English and language arts teachers, this book provides 74 lists for developing instructional materials and planning lessons. The book also includes 89 practical activities and reproducible line master worksheets that motivate students to simultaneously improve writing skills, word usage, and vocabulary. For…

Educators can identify children's strengths early on and gain insight into each student's unique abilities by using the numerous ideas and informal assessments in this exciting guide. Gifted and talented specialist Ann Maccagnano offers K-8 teachers challenging activities and engaging lessons to develop and nurture gifted learners' talents.…

Intended for teachers, this workbook uses 20 well-known children's books as models to teach expository and narrative writing skills. The workbook teaches students about brainstorming, focus, organization, elaboration, and writing conventions with readily-available quality children's literature, such as "When I Was Young in the…

A practicum addressed fifth and sixth graders' deficiencies in writing and comprehension skills with the implementation of diagnostic-prescriptive teaching techniques. The Multi Level Academic Skills Inventory and interest inventories aided in defining students' specific strengths and weaknesses in the areas of reading and language arts. Among the…

To encourage reluctant readers, teachers can use a technique called "read a book in an hour." Students are assigned individual chapters of a paperback novel to read silently. After they have finished reading, they retell the significant chapter events, state the conflicts, and identify the characters as the teacher records the…

Developed by the Oregon Elementary English Project, this curriculum unit on composition games and activities is intended for grades one and two. Each lesson contains a sequence of teacher-directed activities intended to arouse children's interests, help them discover things they wish to say, and then lead them to present their thoughts and…

Presents a group of 31 innovative language arts activities from teachers nationwide designed to inspire elementary students to become eager writers and editors. The article is part of a package of 100 creative ideas for keeping students enthused about learning in language arts, science, math, and social studies. (SM)

Intended for use with kindergarten through grade four students, this guide provides a number of ways for using newspapers in the classroom. The guide is designed to help teachers and students with ways of starting newspaper activities; with reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking opportunities; and with possibilities for making…

Intended for use with students in secondary school English and language arts classes, this guide provides a number of ways to use newspapers in the classroom. The guide is designed to help teachers and students with ways for starting newspaper activities; with reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking opportunities; and with…