Offers reflections by a teacher educator who spent a year teaching a third-grade class. Discusses the realities of a teacher's internal decision-making process and day-to-day interactions with children in the classroom. Notes that uncertainty is what keeps the inquiry process going. (SR)

Argues that focusing vision and going beyond imitation is the path by which the teacher becomes a learner and, as a result, a better teacher. Illustrates the individual search for authority of two teachers through two personal stories. (SR)

Reflects on the role of literature in reading instruction. Reviews briefly research on whole language. Discusses the problems and promises of the whole-language approach and the use of children's literature in the classroom. (RS)

Discusses what happens when students and teachers are encouraged to use multiple ways of knowing in mediating their experiences with the world. Suggests that a good language arts program expands the communication potential of all learners through the orchestration and use of multiple ways of knowing for purposes of ongoing interpretation and…

Describes how educators at one Navajo community school are transforming assumptions about schooling for indigenous groups from a deficit model to one that views bilingualism, biculturalism, and multiculturalism as assets to be tapped. Bases the discussion on a long-term ethnographic study of the changes brought about through the implementation of…

Presents a case study of a sixth grade teacher trying to increase her use of literature for language arts instruction. Shows the challenges and successes of attempting to get better at teaching. (PRA)

Tells about how the author has been learning how to advocate for progressive literacy practices (such as whole language) without demeaning traditional reading and writing instruction and, ultimately, the teachers who enact those practices. (SR)

Reviews the typical approach (synthetic phonics) to teaching reading in Finland. Suggests that teachers in English-speaking countries can learn from problems Finnish teachers face and vice versa. Finds that, despite a highly regular writing system, Finnish teachers find that a heavy phonics emphasis does not solve their reading instruction…

Illustrates the concerns and problems that two teachers have tackled and are currently addressing as they change their teaching to an integrated language program. Considers issues and dilemmas that emerge when teachers begin to share power with their students. Covers some parallel power issues that arise in the collaboration between…

Suggests that the essence of whole language is students developing literate voices. Discusses a seven-month partnership in which the authors participated in and reflected on literature discussions with small groups of fourth graders. Explores how literate voices are developed in real classrooms. (RS)

Illustrates how art provides a medium through which a group of young, pregnant, middle school women connected their reading and writing to their lives. Finds that they were reluctant to engage in the self-revealing writing activities typical of a whole language classroom; however, the opportunity to draw in response to literature enabled students…

Offers one teacher's account of a year of process approach to writing instruction in her fifth-grade class. Focuses on the importance of not getting caught within a narrow vision when reflecting on classroom practice. Notes the crucial role students need to play in instructional decision making. (SR)