In this article, Kate Collins begins by explaining how she discovered that "Hamilton: An American Musical," a Broadway show that incorporates a mix of musical genres: hip-hop, jazz, classic show tunes, and show-stopper numbers based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, could be brought into her teaching as a rich resource for her high…

Each year, seventh graders at Woodlawn School in Davidson, North Carolina, learn about Japan through a compilation of literature, history, and art. They are introduced to a wide range of ideas and materials: they study the Heian and Tokugawa Periods as well as modern Japan, the code of the samurai warriors, haiku and its components, and Japanese…

High school teacher Penny Bernal reflects on the success of using drama in her English Language Development classroom over the past ten years. She shares various steps for preparing a play as a means of promoting language learning and literacy, such as familiarizing students with language intonations through toning activities, practicing stage…

By awakening her creative life, Melissa McClain was able to help students do the same. Based on the experience of bringing her singing and guitar playing into the classroom, she concludes that "the most effective form of professional development begins with the self."

Enumerates dodges so effective that an unprepared teacher can carry away kudos, not boos, from his or her students. (JL)

Solves the problem of introducing Shakespeare to junior high students by using prose versions of his great scenes. (JL)

Recounts how linking "Hamlet" to modern horrors and adventures stimulated student interest in the play. (JL)

The role of an English teacher in teaching democracy to the young students attending English classes is discussed. The students are assumed to be producers as they improvise, collaborate, present performances of texts, engage in open discussions, and write alternative perspectives.

The central concept of a new theory for teaching writing is discussed. The theory states that when students know that the elements in a writing assignment are partly of their own invention, they will be more motivated to produce interesting stories and essays. At the same time, the teacher is able to stress writing skills previously introduced.…

Presents a sequence of writing assignments in the form of a dialogue between a teacher and members of a rhetoric class that calls attention to the crucial relation between the writer and the audience. (JL)

Beginning 13 years ago with a senior English class making their own Christmas cards, a teacher describes how creative activities can improve the appearance and atmosphere of a classroom while also stimulating students to discover and discuss the past as well as the present. (LF)

Describes a five-step creative writing program designed to improve student language skills. (JL)

Reviews of articles selected from various other publications that may be of interest to readers of the English Journal": strategy for keeping a job in today's schools; how and where to publish an article; methods for creative teaching; teaching non achievers; etc. (RB)

Describes the experiences and frustrations of a student teacher who attempts to introduce creative instructional techniques. (RD)

Describes an elective trimester course for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students designed to introduce Shakespeare using student-centered learning, films, music, art projects, reading, and writing. Students' evaluations of the course were unanimously positive. (NH)