Maintains that in order to get quality engaging essays, students must be fully cognizant of what is expected of them. Discusses areas that need to be defined for students. Proposes four C's for designing assignments: clearness, completeness, conciseness, and candidness. (RW)

Outlines a collaborative writing exercise designed to help students develop position statements for persuasive essays. Notes that this exercise helps students adopt the discursive style and language of the academic community, as well as develop reader-based arguments. (MM)

Arguing that students must understand historical methodology in order to fully comprehend and appreciate history, Woodman presents an exercise that provides for a concrete, hands-on writing and evaluation of an historical essay by students. Describes the project in which students use primary sources to write about the Freedmen's Bureau and…

Describes a joint story writing session in which remedial English students and their teacher thought through, pondered, and revised a narrative text that was based on their previous reading of a novel. Argues that such an activity offers students opportunities for reflection and literacy development. (RS)

Describes a study of the effectiveness of using a content analysis-based approach for teaching developmental students to summarize texts. Indicates that developmental students can be taught to understand top-level structure and use this knowledge when constructing summaries. Suggests that students can be taught in cost-effective, group situations.…

Fourteen holistic, meaning-based reading and writing activities appropriate for students with learning disabilities are described, along with the theoretical background of the paradigm. As children experiment, approximate, and discover language naturally and socially, their immersion in authentic spoken and written language facilitates learning to…

Reviews research on the spelling performance of regular and special populations (learning-disabled and ESL) students. Offers research-supported instructional strategies that can help such students become more accurate at spelling when engaged in real writing activities. (RS)

The value of student dialog journals written to another student (unknown) rather than to the teacher is described. Thirteen practical tips for implementation are offered. It is noted that the technique is not suitable for all students, nor is it meant to be the only component in a writing program. (Contains 14 references.) (LB)

Primary grade students at a Delaware elementary school currently participate in the Pulse Power heart physiology program. Students receive mastery instruction and use heart monitors to exercise performance throughout the 6-phase program. Data from homework and from the heart monitors identify student progress, knowledge, and cardiovascular…

A school-based walking program is an inexpensive and amusing way to get young students physically active. The article presents a program that can be adapted for students of any age and implemented as a physical education class unit, after school activity, or recess program. (SM)

How can literature teachers foster an ethic of care in the classroom? How can literature and imaginative pedagogical strategies facilitate education of the moral imagination and overall training of the ethical thinker? This essay explores some theoretical reflections on moral education through literature and, in particular, suggests practical…

This handbook for teachers of English explores the development of writing skills in an academic context. The book is intended for teachers working in situations where students are required to produce reports, essays, dissertations and other forms of academic writing in English. The book's first section examines the writing process and establishes…

Three installments of "Classic of the Month," a regular feature of the National Council of Teachers of English publication, "Notes Plus," are presented in this compilation. Each installment of this feature is intended to provide teaching ideas related to a "classic" novel. The first article offers a variety of…

An activity unit for teaching students to identify and use imagery in writing is presented. Instructions to the teacher for introducing the unit are given along with a list of student objectives and definitions of imagery terms. The activities, some of which involve using locally available audiovisual media, include four introductory activities,…

This teaching model, involving character analysis in literature, illustrates effective instruction that engages students in an interpretive problem, helps them make complex interpretations, and enables them to transform their conclusions into effective literary analysis. The introductory activity in the model is a discussion of a student…