In this article, the author discusses composition studies by examining how incorporating "songwriting" into a first-year writing course enables students to begin expressing their own ideas/perspectives, while also developing the ability to create the concise, detailed texts associated with academic writing. The discussion offers a…

ELA Guidebooks is an English language arts curriculum for core instruction. Made by teachers for teachers, the guidebook units ensure all students can read, understand, and express their understanding of complex, grade-level texts, ensuring their readiness for college or a career. Each text collection has a shared idea and contains authentic texts…

This essay explores what the development of writing might look like and how it might take shape in a secondary English classroom. The study problematises current definitions of progress. In direct opposition to standards-driven models, I propose an alternative way of thinking about the development of writers through a series of narrative accounts…

In the English language arts classroom, social justice is a way to increase students' abilities to articulate their experiences, critique their world, and address those identified issues with subsequent action. Teachers who practice social justice education cultivate student voice through class activities, readings, assignments, and assessments…

"Debates in English Teaching" explores the major issues all English teachers encounter in their daily professional lives. It engages with established and contemporary debates, promotes and supports critical reflection and aims to stimulate both novice and experienced teachers to reach informed judgements and argue their point of view with deeper…

Discusses using students' graded papers as a "text" to be read and commented upon by other students. Notes that sharing students' papers (and the teacher's comments) (1) reassures the students that they are not the only ones making errors; (2) deepens their understanding of literature; and (3) increases their awareness of writing styles and…

Describes successful teaching tips for writing instruction from six teachers. (SR)

Presents two writing activities. Gives a brief description of an activity of personal reflection for composition students. Describes a composition classroom activity for writing effective introduction lead-ins. (SG)

Provides discussion and critical analysis of the film "School Daze," directed by Spike Lee. Describes how the film was used to attempt to raise student awareness of linguistic variation. Presents details of classroom exercises designed to achieve this objective. (HB)

Describes teaching methods and techniques found to be useful by practicing teachers, including (1) "Coming to America"; (2) "Reader-Response Journal Questions"; (3) "Stimulating Class Discussion"; (4) "Group Analysis of Professional Writing"; and (5) "Read a Child's Story." (HB)

Argues that the most important thing that teachers can teach their students about writing letters is to write in a way that reflects the writer's personality, ideas, and visions. Notes that student letter writers should also practice thoughtfulness and good manners. (RS)

Describes teaching methods and techniques found to be useful by practicing teachers, including midsemester written evaluations of teachers by students; telephone conversations and poetry; reading journals and assigned reading materials; grammar handbooks aimed at students, not teachers; and student conferences with their writing teachers. (HB)

Provides a number of classroom activities, including skits, which foster creative thinking and bring vigor to the classroom setting. Relates how, in one class, students were given the opportunity to collaborate on skits in lieu of the final exam. (HB)

Describes teaching methods and techniques found to be useful by practicing teachers, including "Using 'What Works for Me'"; and "Song Lyrics to Teach Grammar." (HB)

Describes how network television can be used to teach visual literacy in the composition classroom. Claims that television's "look" is pervasive and rhetorically powerful. Analyzes the program "Twin Peaks" as it relates to the medium's codes. Suggests how the program might be used to teach students about these codes. (HB)