This article discusses how reading and written language samples can be analyzed to provide information about curriculum-based language strengths and needs that can be used recursively to establish student goals and benchmarks, provide intervention, evaluate change, and begin the next round of planning. A case example is presented. (Contains…

Describes a study of undergraduates that focuses on real-time computer-mediated communication (CMC), specifically the Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Examines gender differences regarding online participation and language styles; discusses access to computers, how skills are conceived and valued, and socialization; and highlights attitudes and prior…

Forms part of a themed issue describing "Parent-Kid-Teacher Investigators," a program in which parents, children, and teachers gather regularly to use language and literacy for action research projects. Looks at the way involvement in the program nourished relationships among diverse individuals. Describes social relationships built at the…

Forms part of a themed issue describing "Parent-Kid-Teacher Investigators," a program in which parents, children, and teachers gather regularly to use language and literacy for action research projects. Discusses ways in which schools and families are alike in building a supportive environment for learning. Illustrates conditions contributing to…

Discusses the life and artwork of Charles Burchfield, particularly focusing on his depiction of nature, watercolor techniques, and use of symbolism in his artwork entitled "Arctic Owl and Winter Moon." Provides lessons for philosophy, visual arts, music, natural science, language arts, and astronomy. (CMK)

Related maternal depressive symptoms obtained when infants were 1, 6, 15, 24, and 36 months old to child functioning at 36 months. Found that women with chronic symptoms were least sensitive during mother/child play from infancy through 36 months. Maternal sensitivity accounted for group differences in school readiness and verbal comprehension and…

Highlights the life of Leonard Koscianski, an artist who focuses on revealing the inner life of the human heart and mind in his artwork. Includes four lesson plans for grades ranging from 2 through 12: philosophy, psychology, language arts, and visual arts. Provides a copy and background about Koscianski's painting "Red Fish." (CMK)

Assertions of crises in public education commonly appear as descriptions of unease, suggestive of proposed remedies. In fact, many remedies actually existed first; their advocates sought particular circumstances they could transform into an alleged crisis. Examples include the "reading wars," bond elections for new buildings, and state standards…

Presents an open letter to English teachers outlining what the author hopes English teachers will teach his children about books and reading this year, focused on helping them love reading. Includes some thoughts about how to do so. Presents short annotations of 11 new or overlooked young adult books worth reading. (SR)

Describes how one 8th-grade English language arts teacher works to keep her students as the primary focus in her curriculum. Discusses how she uses a class council to connect with literature, discuss upsetting issues or incidents, and solve problems. Outlines activities that further the social and emotional learning component of her curriculum.…

Describes a successful strategy that develops critical thinking in middle school classrooms via an intersection of character education, adolescent literature, and authentic assessment. Describes the procedure in which students explore the literature to determine how positive and negative character traits are demonstrated, with discussions on these…

Investigates primary classrooms where teachers implemented recommended literacy practices such as: (1) frequently using children's literature; (2) integrating reading and writing; and (3) teaching skills in context. Finds students developed reading and writing skills at higher levels than students in classrooms where teachers used other practices.…

Describes an effective model for a collaborative approach to designing integrated multimedia materials for language courses. The University of Winnipeg is successfully using the model to create a first-year French course. The model includes collaboration between departments, colleagues, and instructors with their students to design a…

Presents results of a longitudinal study on long-term dialect accommodation in a German dialect setting. An important model of explaining which linguistic structures undergo such convergence and which do not makes use of the notion of "salience." (Author/VWL)

Examined self-assessment as a means of teacher learning that develops teachers' understanding and use of discourse strategies to support instructional conversation. Found that teachers' analyses did not grow more precise, but interpretations of talk revealed growing ability to treat discourse as an object of knowledge. Explored features of the…