To determine the characteristics of, problems with, and teachers' attitudes toward the elementary language arts curriculum, a survey was distributed to 160 elementary teachers (101 teachers responded; 86 females and 15 males--a 63% rate of return). Results showed that teachers perceived no difficulties communicating either with other teachers…

Much is being written about children's learning styles and using computers to accommodate student variability. Although the computer can support instruction for various learning styles, its use in the classroom should be in the best interests of all children, each of whom may be affected by physical, emotional, sociological, and environmental…

This report summarizes a five-volume research report on the classroom use and impact of ThinkAbout, an instructional television series designed to strengthen the reasoning skills of fifth and sixth graders and to review and reinforce language arts, mathematics, and study skills. It describes results of a 1979-80 research study which used three…

Ten second and third grade teachers participated in a study to determine the effectiveness of a "support system" inservice program, in which teachers shared successful teaching procedures and discussed the problems encountered in the teaching of writing. The teachers attended monthly support meetings, shared the writing of their students, kept…

The discussion and activities in this booklet are designed to "tune in" language arts teachers to children's language so that they appreciate and respond properly to student language development. Chapter topics include responding to authentic/inauthentic child language, keeping records of children's spontaneous language and relating the words to…

The final report of a year-long study of the Hawaii English Program (HEP), a comprehensive language arts curriculum for the elementary grades, comparing the performance level in English of pupils in fifth-grade HEP and non-HEP classes and investigating the attitudes of pupils, teachers, and parents is presented in this volume. Sections in the…

This book is a day-by-day record of how and why four- and five-year olds learn, described by a teacher who uses many of the Montessori materials, and emphasizes the discipline and attraction to learning that come from within. The first chapter relates the teacher's theories on education, while the remaining five chapters consist of diary entries…

The language the Negro child brings with him to school has a linguistic structure which is clearly distinguishable from that of standard English. His language is not a defective form of speech. There is, however, what Labov calls, "reciprocal ignorance," a mutual lack of comprehension for the other's language system. Writing is a secondary symbol…

This study attempted to identify the factors which have had significant influence on English teachers' attitudes and practices concerning the inclusion of career-education concepts, activities, and materials in high school English programs in Florida. Utilizing a stratified random sample, the study sampled 325 English teachers, at 45 of the 203…

Analyzing high school English methods courses in institutions approved for teacher education, this study examined (1) the variations in course content and organization, and (2) the possible relationships between course content and such factors as professional background of the instructor, size and type of institution, and duration and sequence of…

This study describes the results of a three-year evaluative investigation of a project designed to enhance teacher use of cooperative goal structuring strategies with resultant changes in the classroom learning environment and achievement gains in reading and language arts. (Authur/BW)

This study evaluated teachers' attitudes toward, reactions to, and knowledge of using portfolios in language arts classrooms. In May 1996, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade teachers in city and county public schools in Memphis, Tennessee, completed a 14-item questionnaire that asked: (1) if they currently used portfolios in evaluating language arts…

Should portfolios replace the traditional report card or be used in conjunction with other evaluative methods? A study assessed the value of portfolios as an evaluation tool and the popularity of their use. Research supports the use of portfolios as a viable means of assessment, yet studies are inconclusive and do not support portfolios as a…

Followed up six graduates from a teacher education program with an action research focus, following them through their first teaching year. Respondents felt action research was a process that helped them acquire skills, attitudes, and knowledge for teaching, especially in language arts. The study reveals lack of transference of skills learned…

Eight experienced Chinese language arts teachers from a typical junior high school in Taiwan participated in this study to discuss the potential uses of information and communications technologies (ICT) in Chinese language arts instruction. After meeting for 12 roundtable sessions and using a web forum as a supplement for exchanging ideas, they…