Describes a simple computer game for writing poetry. Notes the advantages and limitations of such computer assisted English instruction. (RL)

A computer program titled "The Bald Headed Chicken," written for the Apple IIE and Apple IIGS, is described. The program enables primary-level students, as well as limited-English-speaking students, to manipulate graphics and text to create their own stories which can then be saved on disk or printed. (Author/JDD)

The article describes how to use a word processing program and add-on story starters for different genres to enhance elementary students' creative writing skills. Teachers input story starters, then students select a genre and add on a story version in that genre. Students can also develop their own story starters. (SM)

Teachers can illustrate the relevance and power of good writing by having students write various kinds of letters throughout the year. The article describes such activities as writing thank-you notes, describing a dream vacation, getting published, and establishing pen pals. A student page is included. (SM)

This article discusses the advantages of using computer-assisted composing (CAC) to teach composition to elementary and secondary school students with learning problems. It also describes the effects of CAC on student writing and offers several caveats for teachers who plan to use CAC in their classrooms. (JDD)

Michigan Technological University is designing a series of computer modules for supplementary, process-based writing instruction. The Wordsworth II program will lighten the workload of composition instructors by involving students in an individualized writing program outside the regular classroom. It is a sophisticated and interactive program…

An interactive, multimedia program designed to teach writing in Spanish as a second language is described and its instructional features are discussed. In it, students must interpret ambiguous scenes and communicative interactions in Spanish to create a fictional account. An oral component also requires students to speak the language. (MSE)

Writing groups can use word processors or microcomputers in many different types of writing activities. Four hour-long sessions at a word processor with the help of a skilled word processing tutor have been found to be sufficient to provide a working knowledge of word processing. When two or three students enrolled in a writing class are assigned…

Many reading teachers, cognizant of the creative opportunities for skill development allowed by new reading-writing software, are choosing to use microcomputers in their classrooms full-time. Adventure story creation programs capitalize on reading-writing integration by allowing children, with appropriate assistance, to create their own…

Prepared by classroom teachers, the papers in this collection synthesize their own teaching experiences with recent writing research revelations. Among the topics covered in the 37 papers are (1) computers in the English classroom, (2) values clarification and the teaching of autobiographical writing, (3) using journals, (4) grammar instruction,…

Discussing various aspects of the language arts curriculum, this guide contains the following essays: (1) "Listening and the Child in the Language Arts Curriculum," which details a philosophy for teaching and learning in the language arts; (2) "Creative Writing in the Curriculum," which outlines ways teachers can help students achieve creatively;…

The 76 case studies presented here describe how teachers of English as a second language (ESL) respond to problems they encounter in teaching. Each case study describes the context in which the teacher is working, the problem, and the teacher's response. Following each case study is a brief commentary by a teacher educator who reflects that type…