Undergraduate students are often interested in and benefit greatly from applications of economic principles. Historical novels drawn from real-world situations can engage students with economic concepts in new ways and provide a useful tool to help enhance instruction. In this article, the authors discuss the use of historical novels generally in…

Approaches to the teaching of literature are discussed within a framework derived from the work of Piaget. The first two chapters discuss this framework and its relationship to curriculum patterns. Chapters three through seven develop ideas for teaching short stories, novels, drama, poetry, essays, and biography; each form is explored for its…

Advocates the elimination of seven negative instructional practices among English teachers. (RD)

The way in which analysis of a poem can increase the student's enjoyment of it is illustrated and discussed. The teacher is offered one short poem, written by a fifth grade student, which can be used as an exercise in poem analysis. It is believed that the poem analyzed, "The Ball," which is comprised of 11 words, is effective as an introduction…

Children's abilities in written composition have recently become a major concern, stimulated by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, by the earmarking of composing ability as a new class marker, and by increased competition in an overcrowded labor market. This bulletin has been designed to help close the gap between educational…

This paper discusses the use of student journals in a community college literature course as a technique to analyze student responses to literary works. Journal statements collected from 26 students in two classes were evaluated and assigned to the following categories: self and society; class discussion and activity; class discussion, activity,…

Suggests 13 ways students may approach book reports. (SW)

Suggests open-ended study questions distributed early in the semester and later used on literature exams that will promote independent thinking and develop students' interpretive skills, while at the same time indicating whether the students have benefited fully from reading, lectures, and discussion. (HTH)

A series of studies conducted over an 8-year period by the National Research Center on Literature Teaching and Learning examined the ways people think when they read literature and the ways in which instruction could support those kinds of thinking. The research studies were based on both a constructivist and social/communicative tradition. Some…

Discusses the evaluative procedures for students' oral and written responses to poems, plays, and stories. Offers four major priorities for evaluation. (EL)

This packet is the first of five developed as a set of self-appraisal instruments with which teachers (and others) can systematically examine their instruction methods in communication skills. The packet contains forms for teachers, students, administrators, and parents addressing two levels of specificity: responses to the overall communication…

Study examined whether literature discussion groups would offer students worthwhile opportunities, noting how discussion could be evaluated using teacher and student documentation. Eighteen high-risk students were audiotaped discussing stories. Audiotaping proved highly successful. Children were able to take responsibility in the evaluation…

Conceived at an executive board meeting of the International Federation for the Teaching of English, this book describes the classroom practices of English teachers in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, England, and the United States. The 82 articles are divided into the following areas: (1) a history of teaching English in each country; (2) new…