This guide helps teachers and students examine the questions "Who are composers?" and "How do they compose?" In addition to the musical component of the inquiry, the guide also explores the world of writers and how they write and visual artists and how they create. Materials in the guide encourage students to express their…

This paper synthesizes research on the value of writing in learning science at all grade levels. Breakthroughs and barriers to the effective use of writing to learn science are discussed. Differences between elementary and secondary teachers are considered with regard to background in language arts, understanding of the writing process, and the…

This practicum was designed to use directed reading thinking activity strategies to teach reading comprehension skills to middle grades language arts students who frequently failed to make passing scores in reading comprehension exercises. The program included three specific strategies. The first strategy was to teach the students higher-order…

Based on the premise that the challenges of incorporating the necessarily high standards to be literate in today's world require future citizens and the educational community to reconsider the number of students assigned to teachers of English language arts, this National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) position paper outlines what students…

Continuing the conversation began in the book "Invitations," this book further explores the full universe of an effective language arts and literacy program across the curriculum. Filled with an array of field-tested teaching ideas, detailed strategies, reviews of theory, teacher-crafted lessons, and lists of annotated resources, the book presents…

Beginning in the 1992-93 school year, the North Carolina State Board of Education authorized administration of North Carolina-developed end-of-grade tests aligned with the state's "Standard Course of Study." These state-normed tests were administered to more than 568,000 students in grades 3 through 8 in 1998-99. End-of-course tests were…

This performance guide is designed for teachers to use with students before and after attending a storytelling performance of "Growing Up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia" by Carmen Agra Deedy. The guide, called a "Cuesheet," contains seven reproducible sheets for use in class, addressing: (1) A True Story (brief historical background…

Arguing that our democratic society needs citizens with advanced language and thinking skills, this paper invites readers to take part in a Literacy Compact in their communities. It first discusses what a Literacy Compact is, describing it as a pact between students, English language arts teachers, parents, school administrators, and communities…

This packet contains a unit on teaching about volcanoes. The following question is addressed: How do volcanoes affect human life? The unit covers approximately three weeks of instruction and strives to present volcanoes in an holistic form. The five subject areas of art, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies are integrated into…

This book offers teachers guidelines and suggestions for adapting and/or selecting materials for use with students with disabilities in general language arts, social studies, and science classrooms (grades 6 through 8). Following an introduction, chapter 1 offers a nine-step procedure for adapting materials from first, creating a plan for adapting…

This booklet consists of four lesson plans to be used with students in preschool through grade 9. The first lesson, for preschool children with special needs, is titled "Introduction to Islamic Customs and Practices." It introduces new vocabulary and concepts while focusing on Islamic customs and practices. The second lesson, "Islam…

This Digest argues that a well designed course of instruction can utilize motion pictures, television, and video tapes to channel a student's enthusiasm and route it to an academically useful goal. Sections of the Digest discuss what films and television offer to educators; potential applications in language arts classrooms; some other…

Describes successful classroom strategies for improving the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills of a fourth grader with poor communication skills development. Practices include sustained silent reading, exposure to "real" literature, reading aloud, purposeful listening, and writing with a purpose. Guidelines for teachers are…

This study examined curriculum materials used by 11-year-olds in schools in six states and categorized the materials according to the Annehurst Curriculum Classification System. Most materials were in the language arts and mathematics fields and were classified as low in the human dimension categories measured by the Annehurst System. (Authors/PP)