Takes issue with the assumed antithesis of processes of the irrational (imagination and creativity) and those of the rational (reasoning and argumentation). Argues that numerous philosophers suggest richer ways of imagining the processes of argumentation. Explores various classroom practices that enable teachers to weave the creative and critical…

Examines the relationship between male teachers and male students in light of issues relating to manhood. Considers what it means to be a man in a culture in which being a man is poorly defined and rites of passage have been phased out. Asks whether male teachers feel comfortable assuming the role of mentor to male students. (TB)

Maintains that whole language is not a prescriptive approach but a philosophy oriented toward student needs, inquiry, interaction, and, generally, "transaction" over "transmission." Discusses how a teacher becomes a whole language teacher, some of the difficulties of incorporating whole language into traditional curriculums, and the prospects for…

Describes a project in which language arts sophomores creatively and cooperatively produced a book titled "Parents, Are You Ready for This?" Explains how the project transformed student notions about research. Notes that the project involved press conferences and interviews with parents and their children. (TB)

Offers the story of one kindergarten teacher who inherited a "Writing to Read" literacy lab and who redesigned it to meet the needs of her students. (SR)

Offers a personal view of some developments in science and technology studies. Argues that the field has emerged from laboratory studies to engagement with broader issues of power and change. Explains that frameworks developed in the sociology of scientific knowledge have been applied to the analysis of things, of social boundaries, and of…

Argues that adopting the bilingual model, teaching standard English, and encouraging students to cultivate their native dialects encourages diversity, individuality, creativity, and self-esteem while maintaining conventional standards. (SR)

Describes how interactive writing is used in one primary classroom, and shows how it provides a means for teachers to engage in effective literacy instruction within the framework of constructing texts filled with personal and collective meaning. Discusses the roots of interactive writing, interactive writing in practice, what interactive writing…

Explains how journalism research projects in an advanced placement journalism course allow students to hone skills in research and observation by presenting a research paper followed by a hypertext computer presentation or a 20-minute video. Shows how such assignments may be given for more than 1 course, provided instructors are willing to…

Describes a writing assignment based on a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode in which an alien sacrifices his life so two cultures can come together. Provides questions for students to answer during the viewing of the episode. Suggests a writing assignment (and several variations) in which students create their own alien. (TB)

Tells the story of how two new English education professors attempted to introduce alternative methods of writing assessment to their education students. Explains the beliefs the professors brought to the experience and how these beliefs were altered by the resistance the professors encountered from their students. (TB)

Uses 90 postsecondary writing instructors and their rankings of 9 student essays to determine whether they have biases for a Greco-Latinate or Anglo-Saxon vocabulary. Raises questions about assessment practices, teaching methods, and possible effects on students who are exposed to teachers who variously favor a Greco-Latinate or an Anglo-Saxon…

Asks what English teachers must do to improve their quest for fostering vivid, dynamic, original, and thoughtful writers. Argues that conceptual shifts must occur, more people must be educated about writing and learning to write, research from the past must fuel future research, a unified conceptual writing curriculum must be implemented, and…

Describes how the author teaches her eighth-grade students to revise their writing, providing "working revision days" in class, offering direction and structure, and thereby helping students learn how much impact going back to a piece of writing and making sweeping changes can have on the end result. (SR)

Describes a 90-minute lesson on urban nature writing that was taught as part of a 12-week journal writing course for middle school students. Notes class discussions debating "what is natural" as an inspiration for "urban nature writing." Considers differences in discussion between the grade levels 6-8. Concludes that benefits…