Suggests several short, manageable activities for teaching writing, such as writing cereal box copy, characterizations, test items, and obituaries. (JL)

Describes the "Chinese Menu System" of student instructional units based on the ideas of James R. Moffet being used by teachers in the Columbus, Georgia, area in which students select learning activities from categories constructed around a single topic. (JL)

Discusses the steps involved in using short-paragraph dictation exercises: (1) preparing a passage which is of high interest and focuses on grammatical problems exhibited by students; (2) determining the best way of presenting the passage; and (3) evaluating student performance. Identifies the technique's benefits for improving writing skills.…

Suggested writing projects to stimulate thought-to-theme writing connections involve: (1) haiku based on animals; (2) acronyms as vocabulary builders; (3) aromas and textures as inspiration; (4) writing proverbs and fables; and (5) a "musical chairs" approach to story-writing, with props supplied at intervals to test creative technique. (FG)

Explains how student-constructed "aliens" were used to generate writing and to encourage the development of writing skills. (JL)

Offers a writing exercise, based on a comic-strip theme, that teachers can use to relieve tensions between them and their students while developing students' expressive writing skills. (RL)

Describes a poetry writing assignment that teaches students the importance of place and objects in expressing emotions about a childhood memory. (RL)

Twenty-four writing exercises which have been found successful in challenging gifted children are provided. Among exercises described are having the class write a story about information of their choosing from an almanac and having students write a story about what they usually think about just before falling asleep. (PHR)

Presents seven writing lessons for elementary students: choosing effective words; writing similes; writing paragraphs; writing descriptions; letter writing; comparing and contrasting; and understanding point of view. Some of the lessons have unusual themes, such as pizza, pickles, and hoboes. (SJL)

Adapts a classical concept to the composition classroom in a prewriting exercise which offers a wide range of benefits. (RS)

Offers a writing pedagogy maintaining that the content of any particular knowledge is largely a function of the language in which that content is expressed. Argues that each of the many languages available within a given language is representative of an approach to knowledge. Discusses the theoretical base for the pedagogy. Offers a sequence of…

Discusses ways journalism faculty can contribute to the goals of Writing across the Curriculum (WAC) programs, including: speaking at WAC teacher training seminars and publishing student writing. (MS)

Describes how students can write and assemble monthly classroom calendar books. (MM)

Discusses the historical significance of letters to the editor. Suggests guidelines to teach students the skill of writing letters to the editor as a constructive method of sharing views. Asserts that this kind of letter writing encourages participation in the democratic process. (MS)

Offers several brief creative writing activities that are quick, convenient, and encourage students to enjoy and play with words and ideas. Presents these ideas in a calendar format, one for the primary level and one for the intermediate level. (SR)