Discusses, from the point of view of a leader in the whole language movement, the role and the importance of teachers in whole language literacy instruction. (SR)

Describes three teacher support groups, activities of which provide teachers with support in defining, implementing, and preserving programs that use whole-language methods, and are meaning centered and student focused. Also provides suggestions on starting a teacher support group. (BB)

Describes a summer school English-as-a-Second-Language classroom that uses a content-rich whole language curriculum. Highlights experiences that were successful in facilitating literacy development, including reading experiences, writing experiences, talking and reading, and talking and writing. Discusses the effectiveness of the instructional…

Considers the need for a definition of "whole language" and difficulties involved with such a definition. Characteristic experiences in whole language learning communities are discussed. A case study is also provided. (Author/BB)

Whole language has to do with beliefs about language and learners that lead to beliefs about curriculum and instructional procedures. The term emerged as a label for the way language is thought to be learned: as a cohesive organization of systems working together as one--as a whole. The term whole language also refers to the learner as being…