Discusses approaches for helping upper elementary-age children learn about words through integrated study of spelling, grammar, and meaning. Describes what word study is, discusses word study in an integrated language arts unit (providing several examples), and offers reasons for including word study in a language arts program. (SR)

Describes a three-week "Introduction to Language" unit for seventh graders. Notes that students feel ownership of the unit because of the amount of choice and sharing involved. Describes the unit's mini-lessons: human language; origins and development of language; symbols and words; meaning in context; and growth and change in language. (RS)

Relates the author's observations of her third- and fourth-grade class as they studied the history of language, inventing primitive languages as part of their study of early man. (MM)

Describes an approach that adds literature and related activities to language arts programs. Emphasizes connections--between ideas in a book and ideas in students' heads, between what they are reading and what they are struggling to write, and among topics. (SR)

Presents annotations of 13 conference papers, books, and journal articles (published between 1988 and 1992) that serve as a starting point for an integrated study or writing unit exploring the use of oral narratives to link language and literacy. (RS)

Notes important distinctions between "hands-on" experiences and "first-hand" experiences. Argues that teachers need to consider the kinds of learning that books, hands-on experiences, and first-hand experiences provide for students, and the roles they play in the creation of curriculum. (SR)

Discusses using index card improvisations to review story structure and characterization with eighth-grade students. Notes that students were quickly able to construct a story that their peers enjoyed. (RS)

Describes the serious and pervasive problem of "doublespeak," in which language is used to deceive and manipulate in order to control behavior. Discusses why it is crucial for English teachers at every level to be reminded about doublespeak and to teach students about its perils. Describes ways English teachers can teach about and…

Describes how Anna Deveare Smith's "Fires in the Mirror" can be adapted for the secondary level language arts classroom. Describes a storytelling exercise, and then describes the six stages of the project as students adapted personal narrative for performance: theme; obtaining the interview; the peer-editing workshop; preparing for the…

Describes how the Internet can be used to support the active construction of knowledge within classroom, and can be used to create authentic literacy experiences for children. Discusses how literacy and learning are being redefined by the social constructivist perspective and constructivism. Notes specific Web sites. (SR)

This article describes Readers Theater (a form of group storytelling in which two or more readers present a piece of literature by reading aloud from hand-held scripts) and advocates its use in the classroom. The paper's seven sections are as follows: (1) What is Readers Theater; (2) Readers Theater and Its Conventions (discussing scripts,…

The new language arts syllabus for elementary and secondary schools in New York State provides a program framework which focuses chiefly on the development of pupils' skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, literature, and language. This document, the first in a series of packets which implement the use of the syllabus, is designed to aid…

Provides sample classroom exercises to develop middle school and high school youngsters' sensitivity to language skills, spelling, and grammar. Includes riddles, puns, puzzles, and other games drawn from J. Shipley's "Word Play." (JG)

Describes how students set up a database or collection of favorite poems on the classroom computer. (HTH)

This book offers integrated activities in which students explore words and, at the same time, develop their language arts and thinking skills. The book states that this way teachers can pay more attention to word study, without sacrificing other parts of the English curriculum and without resorting to word lists and memorization. In the first…