Examines how literary criticism exploits and marginalizes the poem as printed artifact. Argues that the author-centered, phonocentric premise of close reading neutralizes spatial dynamics and reduces material identity to the status of a transparent medium. Suggests that appreciation of silent visual form is a convention of post modernist writing.…

Describes the author's experience of taking two creative writing courses. Stresses the values that are taught: self-investment; avoidance of premature closure; seeing revision as discovery; experimentation; and trusting your own creative power--all necessary for good writing, whether academic or creative. (RAE)

Two methods of reading "Paradise Lost" aloud were used in a college course: (1) round robin reading observing the poet's own divisions of the material and spread over 10 days; and (2) round robin reading of the entire poem continuously taking up an entire day. Both approaches were effective in emphasizing the poem's oral dimension. (MSE)

Discussion of Lois Lenski's children's books focuses on the realism that predominates in her work through the use of real-life observation as opposed to imagination alone. Ways to use her work as part of a whole language approach to teach reading as well as science, geography, and social studies are suggested. (23 references) (LRW)

Describes two classroom activities that were developed to promote a whole language approach to listening, speaking, reading, and writing. One involved fifth grade students who wrote legends that other students paid to read and evaluate, and the other involved an eighth grade English class who gave free poetry readings in a coffee house setting.…

This annotated bibliography lists 28 books in Spanish recommended for adolescents and published in 1990-92. Categories include biography, fiction, health, history, poetry, and science. The work of the Center of the Study of Books in Spanish for Children and Adolescents, at the California State University, San Marcos, is also described. (MSE)

Explores Afra-Hispanic literature, the writing of black Spanish-speaking women of the Caribbean and Central and South America. The literary texts of Afra-Hispanic women reveal an emerging feminist consciousness. A more detailed analysis is given of the poetry of Virginia Brindis de Salas and Aida Cartagena Portalatin. (SLD)

Outlines a set of conditions in which literacy learning is more likely to occur, based on Brian Cambourne's theory of literacy learning defining eight "conditions for learning." Defines each of these learning conditions, gives examples of them in the real world, and offers examples of what each condition for learning looks like in a 10th-grade…

Reviews 31 collections of children's poetry that help students see the world from a fresh perspective. Notes how they were used in a variety of classrooms and how children responded to them. Organizes the books in terms of: making the ordinary extraordinary; looking at relationships in new ways; new views of the world; and a fresh look at animals.…

Discusses poetry and the power it can have in elementary school classes. Considers why poetry is effective and the value of memorizing poems, and recommends multicultural titles for Blacks, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans that can help motivate children to read and write. (LRW)

Presents brief annotations of 31 books (published in 1997) for children and young readers (of which libraries and schools might want multiple copies), grouped in the following categories: books with lessons for young writers; picture books packed with information; appreciating memoirs and biographies; for the poetry shelves; and books for the…

The best CD-ROMs for young people about space and flight exploit the promise of hypermedia to create informative simulations. This article provides an annotated bibliography of CD-ROMs on astronomy and flight for K-12 students; suggests book and Internet connections; and highlights poetry for astronomers, science fiction, a biography of Charles…

Describes a stylistic analysis component added to a training course for the use of literature in an English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) context. The aim of this component was to help the student teachers explore the effectiveness of applying stylistic analysis of poetry to the design of language activities for use in EFL classes. (12 references)…

Reports on use of poetry as a teaching tool. Discusses value of reading poetry to students daily, and presents writing samples from student journals. Includes definitions of forms of poetry and guidelines for sharing poetry. (DLH)

Tested the feasibility of using local culturally relevant rhymes written for Singaporean children with 3- to 6-year olds and evaluated workshops designed to assist teachers in teaching rhymes to young children. Found that children thought the rhymes humorous and became more involved and participative, and that teachers used a wider, more creative…