The Extended Foreign Language (EFL) program is a "school within a school" dual language program in which students are instructed in both English and a language other than English (Spanish or French) with one hour of daily instruction in that language. Most of the schools participating in the program implement the English/Spanish version…

Instructional time for social studies has been reduced nationwide, particularly in the elementary grades. Yet states continue to promote content standards in history, economics, civics, and geography for young learners. Purposeful integrative content that is appropriate for grades K-6, while sometimes difficult to find, seems to many elementary…

It's not often that the goals of closing the achievement gap, providing professional development opportunities to teachers, and benefiting children by using innovative and effective instructional methods coincide. But at Sutterville Elementary School in Sacramento, CA, they do. This article describes the School-Wide Success (SWS) program, its…

Rejects the arguments for spelling reform, concluding that English spelling follows a system which is about as nearly phonetic as it needs to be. (RB)

There has been some work done with the underprivileged, but many problems still remain. The author discusses the language phase of these problems along with the implications for teaching English. (Author/MF)

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)

Grammar can have meaning and be of use to the learner depending upon the methods of instruction that are being used. The eight traditional parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverbs, prepositional phrase, conjunction, pronouns, and interjection) can be made useful for learners by giving concrete, semi-concrete, and abstract examples when…

Short evaluations of all instructional materials (books, filmstrips, cassettes, kits) adopted by the State of California in 1974 are given in the fields of English, spelling/handwriting, and literature. Piloted reading materials were also evaluated. The evaluations were performed by two or more local elementary teachers or educators and are…

Designed to provide elementary, secondary, and college English teachers with a basic knowledge of the history and structure of the English language, this book is composed of three sections. Part 1 provides an orientation to linguistics by analyzing the basic principles and the scope of language study, and discussing values and perspectives in the…

Presents data from a literacy study of bilingual classrooms demonstrating that teachers have strong expectations and assumptions about literacy instruction, and that certain literacy methods, materials, and assumptions can also make literacy more difficult for the limited-English-speaking child. (HTH)

Discusses how elementary school instruction of Latin in public schools in Philadelphia increased the English vocabulary test scores on standardized tests of fifth graders. Evidence is provided for the efficiency of Latin instruction in strengthening English language skills. (NCR)

To better understand how spelling is taught, six commercial spelling series were reviewed in terms of linguistics orientation, conception of spelling, and treatment of spelling for instruction. In addition, the spelling content of each series through fourth grade was described. Comparisons were made among the series in terms of specific aspects…

This special issue of "The English Record" contains 12 articles about the teaching and learning of English at the primary and secondary school levels. The issue includes: "Reading Education in New York State" by E. B. Nyquist; "Writing and Imaginative Writing" by D. J. Casey; "Creativity Theory and Language Arts" by R. P. Smith; "Communication: A…

Presents the "Englishes" of children from different social backgrounds that are reflected in the forms and functions of their individual ways of communicating. Discusses implications of these language varieties for the classroom. (HTH)

Offers suggestions for building school library collections in English and language arts. Discusses how the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) tests for proficiency in three purposes of reading and how it can be used to evaluate a library collection; and includes four annotated bibliographies of books suitable for elementary…