This ethnographic study explores the literacies of bilingual families living in the Rio Grande Valley on the U.S.-Mexico border. Murillo argues that immigrant families living on the border play an important role in their children's literacy development, but that their voices are seldom heard in schools due to powerful and persistent deficit views…

Utilizing a New Literacies Studies framework, this article presents critical lessons in film production from a multiple site case study. Examples of children's classroom experiences demonstrate how filmmaking and play come together in a process of storying--a collaborative and multimodal approach to text composition. Students in both preschool and…

The controversial and complicated nature of the "N" word is examined in a multicultural classroom project. Utilizing both old and new literature, pop culture, historical lenses, and contemporary interpretations, the word proves extremely relevant in today's language arts classroom. By examining students' perceptions and experiences as well as the…

Describes a project in which children learn about the language of film and how to use language or action to express themselves. Outlines the steps of a class filmmaking project, including brainstorming, plotting, writing, making film props, and filming the movie. (HTH)

Describes four-year-olds' fantasy play, and how their language manifests their imaginations, moods, and personal fears. (HTH)

Discusses the kinds of things teachers can learn from children if they allow their students the freedom to use their language and their imaginations creatively. (HTH)

Examines materials in the ERIC database that deal with the use of creative drama as a language arts teaching tool. Discusses the nature of creative drama and activities for the classroom. (HTH)

Presents research on the situational dimension of linguistic power in social context and the relevance of this research within culturally pluralistic educational contexts. Offers suggestions for class activities that can engage standard and nonstandard speakers of English as well as those who do not speak English. (SRT)

Describes a class project involving collaborative partnerships in which fifth graders wrote books for first graders. (HTH)

Suggests cultural journalism--the collection and preservation of the oral history, folklore, and folklife of a locale--as a teaching strategy to encourage students to explore and appreciate their cultural heritage while strengthening their English language arts skills. (HTH)

Recounts a classroom visit by children's poet and illustrator Karla Kuskin, and the flurry of activity and preparation that preceded her visit. (HTH)

Examines the who, what, where, how, and why of informal drama instruction in the classroom, arguing that, given the current emphasis on "basics" in education, such instruction can provide one of the most basic educational experiences in language arts. (HTH)

Describes how a purposeful, creative use of show and tell can help develop students' speaking, listening, and thinking skills. (DD)

Defines and discusses the concepts of empowerment and motivation, and clarifies the relationship between them. Shows how language arts teachers can take advantage of both in developing more effective classroom practices. Gives examples of motivationally sound practices from the domain of writing instruction that might also be construed as examples…

Describes how a teacher and her grades one through three children made poetry come alive and serve as an authentic part of their lives. Describes the factors underlying authentic classroom instruction, and notes how poetry moved out from lessons and even school time to become something that will continue to be with many of these children…