The success of transitional bilingual programs depends on program support at all levels of the school hierarchy and on the level of knowledge of bilingual education as evidenced through curriculum and instructional activities. Negative impacts and challenges of three types of inappropriate transitional bilingual programs are outlined along with…

Presents 29 brief descriptions of research in the teaching of English (published July through December, 1999) in the areas of: bilingual/foreign language education; classroom discourse; discourse processes; literature; professional development; reading; research methodology; technology and literacy; and writing. (SR)

The New Standards Project, attempting to create an assessment system comprised of performance exams, portfolios and projects, may not have fulfilled its promise to create a national system of tests worth teaching to. However, NSP did deliver high- quality professional-development opportunities for hundreds of teachers across the nation. (Contains…

Presents seven examples of integrating language arts into the curriculum through the use of community connections: (1) exploring curriculum with themed instruction; (2) promoting discussion; (3) using oral language; (4) introducing "found poetry"; (5) writing across the curriculum; (6) sharing an interpretive reading activity in a readers'…

This study examined the impact of parental involvement on four outcomes for 28 young children with hearing loss. Although parental involvement was a significant positive predictor of early reading skills, maternal communication skill and the child's degree of hearing loss were more significant predictors for positive language and academic…

This study investigated the structure and content of the language that medical personnel used with 15 pediatric hospitalized patients during medical procedures, by observing in two hospital settings. Medical procedures were rarely characterized by appropriate verbal structuring. Results suggest that the unsupportive communicative environment may…

Describes how a semester-long pen-pal project enabled 18 participating university language arts students, a class of first graders, their teacher, and the university instructors to become co-learners in meaningful, action research. Discusses insights about writing derived from the children's weekly letters. Presents an assessment rubric charting…

This study evaluated a professional development program for 179 Australian teachers, teacher aides, and speech pathologists working with students having severe disabilities. Emphasis was on their role as communication partners in the implementation of strategies to enhance students' communicative behavior. Teachers and teacher aides reported…

Discusses five recent books about language that address issues that arise in classrooms with an increasing number of diverse dialects and varied home languages. Discusses the complexities of language, misunderstandings in the Ebonics controversy, socioeducational issues, and classroom ideas for teachers. Describes two web sites. (SR)

An epilogue to six papers on the role of the speech language pathologist in the inclusionary classroom integrates the views of the various authors, suggests some valued outcomes for inclusionary practice models, and identifies the next research-to-practice steps. (Contains references.) (DB)

Unit from English studies program at University of Bielefeld was presented to students using songs, illustrations, literature, social history. Objectives were to help students connect their lives with target culture (TC), forge links between concrete examples and wider structures of the TC, and challenge students to look at own culture with eyes…

The language and conversational skills of young children with delayed language development can be fostered by using specific strategies in small-group story reading, including praising children's talk, expanding children's words, asking open-ended questions, and pausing for children to initiate. Teachers are encouraged to train parents to use the…

Presents six curriculum guides for art, reading/language arts, science, and social studies. Each guide identifies library media skills objectives, curriculum objectives, grade levels, print and nonprint resources, instructional roles, activities and procedures for completion, evaluation, and follow-up. (AEF)

A pull-out folder presents the latest information and resources about teaching reading. After offering statistics about reading and reading instruction, the folder examines National Council of Teachers of English and English/International Reading Association standards, explains how to nurture a love of reading in students, and offers resources for…

A three-year summers-only master of arts degree program in speech language pathology (SLP) at New Mexico State University allows speech language pathologists working in rural schools to obtain their master's degree and fulfill state waiver requirements. Program addresses educational needs of nontraditional graduate students and improves the…