Schools are becoming increasingly diverse, and teachers must recognize the social, cultural, and personal experiences that students bring to the classroom and must leverage this knowledge to develop curriculum and instructional strategies to meet the needs of a growing, diverse student population. The author uses Winn and Johnson's (2011)…

Multigenre writing projects contribute to the use of out-of-school literacies, multiple modes of meaning, and writing from several perspectives to aid their audience in comprehending the material being presented. Students are able to write using real-world examples of writing pieces and are required to think critically when melding the pieces of…

This paper discusses my experiences taking a semester's worth of undergraduate courses in order to determine the literacy task demands placed on students in the classroom. It has been well documented that students struggle with literacy tasks when they enter college. My experiences indicated that part of this struggle might be because reading…

As a teacher of struggling and resistant readers in high school, I searched for instructional practices that provided relevance, motivation, and engagement for my students as well as presented opportunities to become more aware of their challenges and priorities outside of school. Technology needed to be a part of the project to allow students…

Describes using Monday morning journal writing activities to give the teacher an insight into what the weekend has done for students. (RS)

Describes a writing assignment based on a teacher-created scenario in which students discover a box (when visiting their grandmother's sister) containing a number of strange items including a written proposal for marriage. (TB)

Suggests that the key to making research writing something students are eager to learn is the instructor's enthusiasm and skill in gathering irresistible ideas and prompts to pique students' curiosity. Presents seven steps to help students write research papers. (RS)

Discusses problems with freshman research paper assignments. Describes how one teacher has adapted cooperative learning techniques to research assignments, allowing students to work together in "base" and "expert" groups. Describes four structured writing assignments on a single subject of general public interest that lends itself to specialized…

Makes a case for teaching integrity in the classroom through writing assignments and case studies of ethical situations that teenagers would face in their daily lives. (TB)

Describes a method of teaching basic writing to native and nonnative students that emphasizes a regression to the most basic elements of writing. Considers what writing content, rhetorical techniques, grammar exercises, and proofreading methods are most effective for the two groups. (TB)