In this article, the authors examine how one of the authors used Kendrick Lamar's autobiographical hip-hop to provoke mandate-compliant analyses of complex social, racial, and political realities. This unit also offers a compelling example of "critical compliance" (Gorlewski, "Accountable") as a strategy for resisting dominant…

Many teachers are searching for that "silver bullet": the teaching method that always works. Many answers, often contradictory, are offered by educators far and wide, as evidenced by the 768,000 websites identified by a Google search for "best practices teaching." The quest for best practices has led many to seek ways to teach that defy even the…

In society, expertise bestows directive power--the authority to tell others what to do and how to do it, or simply to do it for them. In a school system that still operates on an authoritarian model, the author's expertise as a writer and teacher gives her directive prerogative when responding to student writing. Traditionally, teachers have used…

This article discusses how amusing mistakes can make for serious language instruction. The notion that close analysis of language errors can yield insight into how one thinks and learns seems fundamentally obvious. Yet until relatively recently, language errors were primarily treated as indicators of learner deficiency rather than opportunities to…

The author suggests that it is impossible to motivate students. He said that in fact, it's not really possible to motivate anyone, except perhaps oneself. What a teacher "can" do--"all" a teacher can do--is work with students to create a classroom culture, a climate, a curriculum that will nourish and sustain the fundamental inclinations that…

Authentic discussions about writing are the sorts of conversations that professional or experienced writers might have, where writers explore purpose, effect, clarity, and interpretation. These discussions help students develop "writing skills and strategies because students are able to work at progressively higher levels with the guidance and…

The academic accomplishments and the lasting influence of the collaborations of Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner in the vision of teaching English are discussed. The "splinters of ice in the heart" is a set of principles, which are very crucial for understanding how language works, from the book "Teaching as a Subversive Activity" by Postman…

Describes the author's success in using a soft sell" approach to stimulate reluctant high school students' interest in reading. (JB)

Provides a questionnaire with which English teachers can determine whether their instructional techniques are artistic, mechanical, or somewhere between these two extremes. (DD)

Affectionately remembers a college professor and his particular approach to poetry reading and discourse. Refers to a Sufi tale regarding teaching and learning to demystify previous philosophical and pedagogical confusion. (JK)

Describes what one high school writing teacher would do to make a writing workshop work effectively. (RL)

An experience on teaching a drama class and staging performances with available resources is described. Some of the more challenging circumstances are highlighted and it is demonstrated that a sense of humor and community support is needed for the show to go on.

Contains recollections of one teacher's experiences with and observations of teacher J. C. Tressler. Praises Tressler's contribution to the teaching of English. (JD)

Revisits a concept put forth in this same column a year ago, namely, that middle school teachers are different from other level teachers in five significant ways. Argues that now is the time for vertical collaboration; that is, collaboration among teachers at different levels of education. (TB)

Relates a question-and-answer interview with British educator John Dixon that addressed such issues as Dixon's motivations for his book "Growth through English," his personal growth model of English instruction, his idea of a learning community, and his view of the school system in America. (JD)