This case study investigates the decision making of Joni, a high school English teacher, during her student teaching in an Applied Communications II teaching assignment, comprised of students in the lowest tier of a four-track senior English curriculum. This course served as a "contact zone" for a set of competing interests: Joni's stated beliefs…

This pioneering book, by one of the founders of the media literacy field, provides evidence of the impact of media literacy on the academic achievement of adolescents. Read about the practice of high school teachers who prepared their students to critically analyze all aspects of contemporary media culture. These teachers incorporated popular and…

In this article, the author shares her practicum experience in a nine-month English program and a gruelling assessment schedule for her other five subjects. During her practicum several incidents occurred that caused a shift in the way she perceives the role of an English teacher, and they have informed her English teaching practices. She reflects…

For the first time in the history of American education, educators and policymakers are setting their sights on reaching the goal of preparing all students graduating from high school to meet the requirements of postsecondary education, professional careers and effective citizenship. The 2004 report, "Ready or Not: Creating a High School…

GRADES OR AGES: Grade 13. SUBJECT MATTER: English. ORGANIZATION AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE: The guide is divided into four sections: Aims, Developing Courses, Individual Studies, and Suggested Texts. Each section is in list form. The guide is offset printed and staple-bound with a paper cover. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES: A list of both attitudinal and…

Innovations in the English curriculum are more talked about than implemented. Curriculum changes, some with profound implications, are occurring; however, such changes affect only a few schools. Student dissatisfaction with current course offerings is increasing. (CK)

Suggests a course unit created in response to General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) guidelines which attempts to avoid the guidelines' inherent division between skills and creative response. (JAD)

The problems involved with teaching children how to write are presented. The author points out that the child must be taught different types of writing. (MS)

Calls for the continued inclusion of adolescent literature in the English curriculum. (JL)

With a sequential curriculum involving grades 1-12, well trained teachers who themselves write, and an ongoing in-service program incorporating composition, the public schools can exhibit a real commitment to the writing component.

In the past two years, considerable media and government attention has been directed towards the teaching of Australian literature in secondary schools. This article explores the main themes of this discourse, and considers recent discussions about Australian literature in the National English Curriculum in the context of this debate. By way of…