The theme for the 62nd annual conference of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers was Educating for a Just Society. Connie Briggs, previous Program Chair, reminded us that, "Education has always been the foundation of a democratic nation. It is important that our students understand the principles upon which our nation was…

Explains a five-step study strategy (PORPE) that can be used in any content area: Predicting potential essay questions to guide subsequent study; Organizing key ideas using own words; Rehearsing the key ideas; Practicing the recall of the key ideas in self-assigned writing tasks; and Evaluating the completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness of…

Provides a rationale for content area writing, and suggests ways it can be used for social studies instruction. (JC)

Stressing that learning to write is learning to think, a series of workshops showed teachers in the content area how to use writing in their classrooms. Following a brief introduction to the program, workshop participants developed eight guidelines for creating effective writing assignments: (1) make all assignments worthwhile, (2) make them…

Describes an English college geography course where students work in teams to design a field trail and produce promotional guides. Emphasizes field-based activity, student-led participation, and the development of a target audience. Recommends reiterating the relationship between theoretical considerations and the field-based activity. (MJP)