This book, the third volume in the NCTE High School Literature Series, explores the joys of reading and teaching the stories and poems of noted Mexican American author Sandra Cisneros. Already a fixture in many high school English classes, her works resonate with the challenges and promises of living in a multicultural society, and they appeal to…

The articles in this Proceedings of the 2000 College Reading Association Conference focus on teachers/mentors. Following the Presidential Address, "Literacy 2001: What Is and What Should Be" (J. Cassidy) and the Early Leader, "College Reading Then and Now: How Much of a Difference Has 50 Years Made" (M. Maxwell), articles in…

This action research study, carried out by two university professors in a Texas teacher education institution, examined the beliefs and self-images of preservice teachers as they related to writing and the teaching of writing. It also examined what course elements and activities could contribute to the development of positive attitudes and beliefs…

As computers become an integral part of classrooms, educators need to determine if there are uses of computers that are supported by research. Recent research has examined uses of technology in the classroom for writing instruction, electronic literacy environment, and electronic portfolios. Results of these studies on writing instruction indicate…

This case study presents a portrait of one English teacher within her school and in her professional contexts. It is part of a series of reports investigating methods of successful English instruction which reconciles professional trends with individual practice. The case study examines data collected during 1996-1998 from the classroom of Gail…

This monograph explains dysgraphia in students and offers a range of practical suggestions tailored to individual children with specific dysfunctions that obstruct the transcription of their thoughts to paper. Chapters address: (1) why students avoid writing and the need for students to understand the purpose of writing; (2) underlying processing…

Two studies were conducted to determine the impact of instructional rubrics on the development of students' writing skills and their understanding of the qualities of good writing. In the first study, 303 eighth graders were given an instructional rubric before writing 1 of 3 different types of essays. Results suggest that an instructional rubric…

This paper provides a summary of well established, conventional thinking on the importance of writing to the language learning process. Writing is a central element of language. Any reading and language arts program must consider the multidimensional nature of writing in instructional practices, assessment procedures, and language development. The…

The challenge of effective writing instruction was investigated by means of a literature review. Writing, as a part of the field of Language Arts, comprising reading, writing, listening and speaking, takes more than teaching spelling, grammar, and other writing conventions for students to develop as writers. The writing process--prewriting,…

Composition theory and research indicate that, whether they use a holistic or an analytic rubric, teachers should share their scoring guide with their students. Both students and teachers benefit in substantial ways when students draft and revise their written work in the context of the rubric their teachers will use to assess student writing.…

Addressed to early childhood educators in Scotland, this guide shows how adults working in preschool and early primary school settings can maximize children's interest, knowledge, and skills in writing, and actively foster the disposition to be a writer. Following an introduction, the guide is presented in four parts. Part 1, "Teaching…

It is viable to argue that literacy can be construed as a set of culturally-based discursive practices rather than as merely a set of cognitive skills. This idea has special relevance for students with learning disabilities, who often struggle with more traditional, individually-based curricular approaches. This study explored the ways in which an…

With sections on using the Web to plan and structure courses, conduct research, and publish student work, as well as a reference essay that reviews Web sites for educators and students, this book reveals the rich variety of ways in which this technology can be used by English and language arts teachers at all levels. The 20 essays in the book…

Cites survey and interview results indicating that college students do a large amount of self-sponsored writing, including letter and journal writing, to come to terms with others' ideas and their own feelings. Suggests that teachers need to make their students' own intentions the focus and starting point for for classroom writing. (MM)

Curriculum development efforts for English instruction over the past 20 years are reviewed, and an "inside-outside" approach that uses the structure of the discipline, or its inner core, to guide curriculum development is suggested. Three principles--metaphoric thinking, writing as reconstruction of experience, and language in context--would…