Drawing on sociocultural approaches to literacy and literature on the communal spaces of teaching and learning of Latino/as, I share one Mexican border women's life story and analyze her literacies and ways of knowing in relation to the literacy event of giving "consejo." Using data gathered through individual interviews and…

This teacher research study took place in a bilingual second-grade classroom in the southwestern United States. The study investigates the "cuentos" told during "platicas literarias"/literature discussions and explores how five young Latinas used their cuentos to communicate meaning through intertextual connections. These…

This paper describes diverse language learners' use of dialogue journaling in an elementary school setting. The author, a teacher researcher, conducted a qualitative research study with eight participants, ranging from fourth to sixth grade; all were learners adding English to their language repertoire. Through an in-depth analysis of student…

Language arts educators who teach Latino English language learners know that part of their job is to help students learn to distinguish between the vernacular varieties of Spanish (or Mandarin, or Portuguese, or Swahili), English they use at home, and the school varieties of language expected in the classroom and in other professional and…

Contains an interview with journalist Edwin Newman in which Newman urges that students be taught to use language with greater precision, and a response to Newman by John S. Mayher and Rita S. Brause. (DD)

Presents an in-depth interview with Ken and Yetta Goodman, awarded the second National Council of Teachers of English award for outstanding educator in the language arts. (SR)

Presents an interview with Carole Edelsky in which she discusses the political issues that affect the day-to-day lives of children and teachers in the language arts classroom; political aspects of whole language; national political issues and literacy; and political actions teachers can take to improve language arts education. (RS)

The use of creative dramatics in the elementary school classroom for developing in students awareness of the world around them is discussed in this interview with Brian Way, a noted contributor in the field of drama and children's theatre. (HTH)

An interview with Michael Stubbs, lecturer in linguistics at the University of Nottingham, regarding the sociolinguistics of the classroom. (DD)

Presents an interview with Bernice E. Cullinan. Notes that she has been named the Outstanding Educator in the Language Arts for 2003. Notes that the recipients of this award are selected by members of the Elementary Section Steering Committee of the National Council of Teachers of English. Talks about who she is and what she feels she has…

Presents a conversation with Dorothy Watson, the 2002 Outstanding Educator in the Language Arts recipient. Hopes that this profile will provide insight into Dorothy Watson and her intellectual foundations, her humaneness, and her passion for teaching and learning. (SG)

Reports an interview with one teacher who shares her story about learning through language and authentic activities. Describes how she and her second-grade students develop a life history together in the classroom community. (MG)

Discusses how interviews with fifth-grade students about their literacy journeys--the experiences that led them to where they are now in reading and writing--gave great insight (to their teacher as well as to many other teachers) into what makes language arts instruction "take." Conveys the importance of authentic literacy experiences. (SR)

Presents a series of conversations with distinguished educator Brian Cambourne, recipient of the National Council of Teachers of English's Outstanding Educator award. Discusses learning to read, Cambourne's doctoral dissertation, why the conditions of learning are important, three categories of beliefs about "literacy," the politics of…