Discusses 10 brief lessons using the daily newspaper that can add a variety of interesting and worthwhile activities to the English classroom. (RS)

Describes a method of teaching literature to high school students that employs an opinionnaire that students use to respond to a literary work prior to discussion. Relates personal successful uses of this method. (HB)

Offers some ground rules for using collaborative learning effectively in the secondary English class. Describes three assignments involving collaborative effort that the author has used successfully in her teaching. (SR)

Overviews the current state of writing instruction in elementary and secondary schools. Presents specific examples from real classrooms of misguided instruction and ill-advised assignments. Suggests specific ways of improving classroom instructions of writing at all levels in the future. (HB)

Describes how using prereading opinionnaires enhances students' understanding of literature while satisfying many of the demands of Standard #3 of the Standards for the English Language Arts. Offers examples of such opinionnaires, and shows how one was used in a 9th-grade English class to promote students' understanding of the novel "The Giver,"…

Offers examples of activities for teaching English language arts that teach students to think critically, solve problems, and work collaboratively, while exploring problems that are complex and interesting but are open to a variety of solutions. Describes an activity used for teaching argument and persuasive writing, and activities for teaching…

Presents the details of the Shakespeare Frolic Project, a multimedia approach to teaching works of Shakespeare that involves students in writing, analyzing, drawing, reading, and performing. Presents an introductory exercise and describes various student activities. (RS)

Describes how the author dealt with having only one networked computer in his classroom by having students work in groups to create multimedia presentations as part of an extended project on tragedy. Discusses lessons learned about incorporating technology into English courses. (SR)

Argues that traditional textbook approaches to teaching literature alienate students from literature. Describes effective alternatives in which students learn interpretive strategies as they analyze and discuss their own important values in life, and then those of characters in a story; and learn to deal with irony. Outlines writing activities…

Argues that picture books are a significant resource in learning about literary elements. Discusses using picture books with middle schoolers in "text sets" (5 to 15 texts that relate conceptually in some way). Describes a two-week period during which eighth-grade students read and responded to text sets on themes (prejudice,…

Argues that English teachers should expose students to the craft of play production. Suggests building a drama unit from the production approach and presents an example of such a unit. (FL)