Discusses the importance of the spoken word and the tradition of nursery verse and other forms of poetry. Encourages teachers and students to never abandon the rhythm, balance, and pleasurable taste of language as it was first learned through oral chants, jingles, and rhymes of early childhood. (MG)

Discusses academic arguments over definitions of "trickster," who intrinsically disrupts classifications of any kind. Focuses on trickster's reemergence (particularly as female) in contemporary native American literature, which merges verbal art and tribal traditions with Anglo text forms to create a liminal literary space ideal for…

Suggests that the neglect of poetry and reporting in English instruction is rooted in certain assumptions about the nature of literature, imagination, and narrative. Asserts that this damages children's experience of reading and their experience as writers. (MM)

Reviews the life and poetry of Anne Spencer, one of the "lost" poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Discusses her varied and effective use of imagery and examines the Black and feminist perspectives of her work. (FMW)

Discusses the way in which poetry offers experiences with the unexpected through the element of surprise. Discusses ways in which poetry addresses concepts in social studies and sciences. (RJC)

Reviews a volume of 21 interviews with American Indian poets focusing on the issues of the new role of women in Native American poetry; the tension of two cultures, particularly for half-breeds; and cultural, national, and personal survival. The book includes a poem by each poet, with commentaries. (SV)

Describes the author's poet-in-residency at Salmon, Idaho, through a series of letters and journal entries. Describes her planning and orientation; her experiences teaching poetry writing to students at all levels; the organization of a public reading; and her return to distribute an anthology of her students' work. (MM)

Three articles focus on elementary school literature education. The first reviews children's books that celebrate the winter. The second presents a holiday letter to students from writer/illustrator Marc Brown. The third examines how the seasons can inspire imagery in children's poetry. (SM)

Explains the guidelines for an exercise based on the poem "The Little Mute Boy" by F. Garcia Lorca. States that students are to: discuss synesthesia, the substitution of senses; explore the surreal senses; think about life without a sense; create a net of surprises; write a poem; and read the poem aloud. (PA)

Interviews Dale Bachman Flynn, professor of cardiology and dean of admissions and student affairs at Emory University School of Medicine, about his "In the Country of Hearts," a collection of stories about his medical practice. Discusses Flynn's personal life; his life-long practice of writing; and his interest in the intersections among medicine,…

Describes the author's experiences as a poetry teacher. Compares the world of poetry to a house with thousands of windows. States that poetry from other countries has value for American readers. Chronicles her efforts to gather the poetic anthology "This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems from Around the World," meant for younger readers as…

Discusses the authorship of literary works attributed to William Shakespeare. Describes the "modal analysis" authorship identification test's application to the dispute. Concludes that the poems, "Shall I Die" and "Elegy," may not have been written by Shakespeare, whereas eight poems from the collection, "The…

Teaching health occupations students to empathize with and understand the values and concerns of patients is critical. Using literature to illustrate ethical and clinical issues is an effective means of sensitizing students to the impact they have. (SK)

Argues for the pervasive intervention of the Vietnam War in the cultural production of U.S. poetry. Questions the academic canon of post-World War II poetry and criticizes anthologies for ignoring Vietnam War poetry. Suggests why Vietnam War poetry has remained such an avoided subject. Lists anthologies including such poetry. (HB)

Explores the challenges of performing children's nonsense poetry with, rather than to, an audience of children. Discusses different nonsense operations and offers a broad-based scheme for making performance decisions about what kind of nonverbal emphasis to use in performance. Includes examples with suggestions for performance. (SR)