This sampler discusses California's English-language arts assessment program and presents examples of middle grades reading assessments, writing assessments, and writing prompts. The first section of the sampler takes an integrated look at the changes which make up the new English-language arts assessment. The second section presents the scoring…

This report describes major activities of the Mid-Atlantic Multifunctional Resource Center (MRC) during 1992-1993. Chapter 1 includes a state by state description of the service area (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). A description of the MRC and staff and other…

Designed for teachers, students, caregivers, and health professionals who work with children from birth to age 8, this book provides a review of recent research and theories of development and learning in the early childhood years, with an emphasis on implications for effective teaching. Where appropriate, the book takes an Australian perspective,…

Intended for classroom teachers, this book presents classroom practices grounded in theory and focused on process. The first chapter provides the knowledge base that unifies the entire book and lays the foundation for whole language instruction. The second chapter discusses three classrooms that exemplify the whole language classrooms where the…

Instructional conversations (ICs) represent an alternative approach to the instruction of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. It has instructional intent, but appears to be a spontaneous conversation with natural language interactions. Successful ICs depend on identification of a text-specific theme that is significant and tied to…

Seven Chapter 1 elementary schools in the Jefferson Cluster in Portland (Oregon) Public Schools invited children who had completed second grade to a language arts summer school in 1992. As part of the program, parents were also invited to attend eight sessions on strategies and activities that would strengthen their children's language arts…

This curriculum guide presents the core standards and objectives for level 7-12 language arts instruction in Utah. The curriculum guide begins with a statement of the elementary and secondary school program of studies and high school graduation requirements. After a brief statement on the importance of language arts and core curriculum standards…

A discussion of the teaching and learning of English for special purposes focuses on the interrelationship of content and language, particularly in the case of education for the legal professions. It is noted that law students must both study a large corpus of case and statute law and legal principles and learn the language of the law, with its…

This handbook for early childhood educators describes the Sesame Street PEP, an educational enrichment program for 3- to 5-year-olds that makes learning a fun and challenging adventure by using the educational goals of the Sesame Street show, children's books, and developmentally appropriate activities. This program seeks to: (1) stimulate…

A program of basic language/writing skills was designed to enhance the literacy levels of 24 multicultural seniors, aged 65 or older, who were recruited from senior centers throughout Erie County, Pennsylvania. Computer literacy and basic word processing skills were taught along with basic language/writing skills in a nonthreatening learning…

Painting a picture of the hostile environment in which racial and linguistic minority children live, this paper proposes how educators can become combatants against educational failure that is corrupting the futures and talents of millions of children of color. The paper focuses on the four federally recognized minorities--Latinos, African…

This document summarizes the final reports of five Colorado classroom projects funded to promote and evaluate effective instructional techniques for students with learning disabilities. (However, the projects also involved students who were not disabled.) The five projects dealt with: (1) effectiveness of using an edu-kinesthetic whole brain…

This document examines how to meet the educational needs of children and youth from diverse cultures. Selected data and vignettes are used to provide a context for the lives of children in America. Values that currently drive the educational enterprise are listed, accompanied by a list of reformed values that address the needs of students from…

Developed to assist employers in implementing a company-sponsored, on-site workplace literacy program for their employees, this guide is the result of experiences gained by the Seattle-King County, Washington, Private Industry Council, its partner agencies, and participating local employers. The guide contains sections on the following stages in…

This 13 day curriculum unit is designed for use in English and language arts classrooms, grades 7-12 and junior college. While it is the second section in a series of five on the literature of war and peace, it can be used with or without the other four sections. Each section of the series focuses on a different genre of the literature of war and…