Considers rhetorical implications of silence as a contestatory strategy in a basic writing class where Mike Rose's "Lives on the Boundary" was the text. Finds students were reluctant to discuss the issues of power raised in the book, perhaps because of complex cultural and educational conflicts operating in some writing classrooms.…

Shows how some key postmodern ideas about texts forced a teacher and her students to rethink typical writing assignments and typical student responses. Describes the assignments and considers how they invite postmodern critique. Suggests giving up grandiose, romantic notions that Freshman Composition can fix students either personally or…

Examines what effects teaching explicitly about racism for one term to a multiethnic, elementary school class has on the students' attitudes, beliefs, and actions regarding racism. Responses from 23 six graders reveal a need for primary schools to provide more effective and explicit education against racism. (GR)

Describes how "intertextuality" shapes a course in children's literature: the professor begins with the notion of children's book history as a story told by image and myth; the course progresses with a series of significant children's texts; the writing component which follows is directed toward reader response; class time is devoted to…

Compares writing self-efficacy scales differing in response format among a group of middle school students (N=497). Results reveal that a scale with a 0-100 format was psychometrically stronger than a scale with a traditional Likert format. Also reveals that children at the middle school level can indeed make a discriminating judgment using a…

School psychologists are often asked to respond to student violence based on incomplete information about the nature and scope of these problems. Compares the methods and findings of three national surveys of students to understand what methodological characteristics have the most salient impact on their findings. Results suggest that student…

Describes activities associated with Teen Read Week in October, 1999 in which young adult author Adam Rapp was the first Author-in-Residence at Ridgewood High School, near Chicago, Illinois. Notes students in the English Skills class (for students who need extra help) seemed genuinely interested in the book and the author. Describes how funding…

Illustrates the use of drama as a form of literary response. Suggests that drama allows students to develop and exhibit a range of skills and to demonstrate their literary understandings in "unschooled" ways. Suggests that Howard Gardner's work on multiple intelligences demonstrates that students may not be developing understandings because they…

Describes two research studies with high school teachers and students that examine various aspects of both students' and teachers' perspectives on teacher responses to student writing. Examines how well teachers put their own theory about writing instruction into practice with their response style; analyzes teacher comments and students'…

Students (N=40) whose loved one had died by suicide in the past two years, were assessed as to whether writing projects lessen their grief. All participants competed pre- and posttest measures of grief. Determined that writing about grief associated with suicide of a loved one appeared to reduce suicidal grief but did not extend to general grief…

Examines student experience of criterion-referenced assessment and, in particular, a criteria assessment grid developed for the Business School at Oxford Brookes University (UK). Findings revealed that students desired more reliable marking processes and clearer guidelines on assessment requirements and criteria. The criterion-referenced grid,…

Presents students' responses when the author asked whether or not it was worthwhile to study King Lear. Recognizes that she could not sell Shakespeare to her students and that most of them will never read another of his plays. (SG)

Describes how students respond when in transition from traditional to innovative language arts instruction. Offers a three-stage grounded theory of change: Comfortable Dependence, Anxiety, and Comfortable Independence. Suggests findings were consistent with other change research that indicates that change is a process implemented over time, is…

Explores the effectiveness of using short video clips from feature films to highlight theoretical concepts when teaching social psychology. Reveals that short video clips have many of the same advantages as showing full-length films and demonstrates that students saw the use of these clips as an effective tool. (CMK)

Describes outcomes of a six-year study of students' participatory research on literacy motivations and schooling. Suggests the need for a fundamental shift of the dominant epistemology in society and schools to one based on trusting, listening to, and respecting the integrity of the minds of all participants in schooling. (NH)