Designed to identify the major problems of the non-committed high school learner and to suggest specific, practical courses of action for the experienced educator, this book emphasizes the positive approach that everyone can improve if given feedback for his responses. Chapters are concerned with (1) identifying the non-committed learner; (2) the…

An examination of classroom behavior, teaching methods, materials, equipment, and administrative practices in a junior high school reading and speech improvement class, in a senior high school communication skills course for low achievers, and in an English class for high achievers revealed that (1) shifting populations result in transiency,…

This course of study for the slow-learner is intended to help the student understand his own worth and potential for growth, to improve his adjustments to his environment through better understanding and communication, and to show him the value of good work habits and participation in recreational and cultural activities. Introductory sections…

The main thesis of this book which describes a pupil-centered curriculum is that students should use language more than they customarily do. The curriculum is based on a "naturalistic" approach "whereby students learn essentially by doing and receiving feedback." Consequently, most of the book is devoted to guiding the student from a posture of…

Perspective on how English professors and English departments can engage professionally and meaningfully in the education of impoverished children is provided through the recounting of a number of experiences in related situations. A discussion with a college literature class about how best to recruit and instruct college-level black students…

The variety of influences on the teaching of literature at the elementary school level is illustrated by this description of current practices and review of research and development in the area. The following types of materials are reviewed to point out recommended practices: curriculum guides, objectives of library programs, textbooks for…

A number of the axioms of tagmemics are explored in order to develop exercises based on these axioms about language structure but specifically designed to develop writing competence. Exercises for unit definition through contrast with other units; range of variability; and distribution in class, sequence, and system receive particular attention.…

The purpose of this publication is to help teachers identify the levels which children have attained in their thinking as they express their attitudes, values, and behaviors through oral language. Provided are (1) sample questions applicable to various maturity levels to enable teachers to gauge the level of difficulty of their classroom…

This collection of 15 descriptions of teaching practices was designed to aid classroom teachers and to inform curriculum supervisors, administrators, and the general public of the wide range and complexity of activities within the profession. Two articles emphasize the place of linguistics in the classroom and clarify some of the problems of…

The 19 articles on teaching methods collected in this seventh report of the NCTE Committee on Classroom Practices focus on Afro-American ideas, communication, and teaching in megalopolis. Specific topics discussed include (1) the teaching of reading and writing to disadvantaged children, (2) the utilization of black authors and poets in literature…

Considers: (1) research by George Hillocks using meta-analysis to examine four modes of composition instruction; (2) role playing in classroom to improve student writing of persuasive letters or opinion essays; (3) process approach to English instruction, which allows for complex nature of individual learning styles; and (4) resource for promising…

The aim of this book is to provide a compromise between past and present theories of language teaching and learning. The book is organized into six main parts. In the first part, the author highlights the strengths and weaknesses of both the skills-based approach and the whole-language approach. He then presents a theory that emphasizes the…

In this anthology, rural Alaskan English teachers in the Bread Loaf Rural Teacher Network describe their experiences implementing new state education standards while continuing their commitment to learner-centered and place-based practice. The book presents narratives about teaching grounded in knowledge and understanding of students and…

Examines the importance of storytelling and the implications of silence in the classroom, describing "Write for Your Life," an interdisciplinary writing project. The project focuses on improving student writing and on writing's relevance to students' lives and communities. The context is an experience in a methods class that highlighted…

In this essay, the author explains not only how she came to write her classic text "Literature as Exploration," but she also describes the path of her own professional journey. A conviction about the difference between "literary" and other reading led to her writing "Literature as Exploration" in the first place. In this book, she argued that…