Results are reported from a longitudinal study of teachers' (N=18) development in writing instruction. Two approaches to writing instruction are contrasted: technical rationality and reflection-in-action. The four-phase action research study was carried out in the context of a one-year in-service training program to prepare writing-teacher…

Suggests that discussions on approaching poetry must begin with addressing the role of the classroom teachers and the attitudes about poetry that they bring to the classroom. Discusses a few general suggestions as to how poetry may be approached in the classroom. Discusses a poetry writing sequence which helps students explore images and…

Discusses the classroom approaches and teaching techniques professional writers use when teaching literary journalism. Comments on discussions with John McPhee, Mark Kramer, Madeleine Blais, and Tracy Kidder. (MG)

Provides comments from five teachers in response to an article in the same issue of "English Journal" concerning a teacher's handling of a rebellious high school student. (MG)

Describes the Cognitive Strategy Instruction in Writing (CSIW) program by discussing: (1) knowledge bases that are useful for expository writing and reading; (2) features of instruction inherent in CSIW that help build knowledge for successful writing and reading; and (3) the effect of CSIW on students' expository writing and reading. (MG)

Looks at the similarities and differences among children learning to write poetry in United States, Haiti, France, Italy, and China through the author's experiences teaching in these countries. Notes that the differences in how these different children wrote were less obvious than the similarities. (MG)

Examines the effects of computer network technologies on teacher-student and student-student interactions. Finds that teachers in networked sections interact more with their students than do teachers in regular sections and communicate more electronically with less able students than with more able students. Notes that less able students…

Describes a teacher's experiences in a multigrade intermediate grade mountain schoolhouse. Notes that teaching difficulties were overcome by (1) organizing time and contracting with students; (2) learning from students about what to teach; and (3) using language that invites and includes students. Explains how these techniques aid reading and…

Urges writing teachers to cultivate the students' own expression of diverse or alien ideas, not just accept these diversities. Stresses that educators cannot expect young students of Hispanic or other cultures to initiate an open, creative exploration of themselves without an atmosphere of complete acceptance. (MG)

Examines composition research in the annotated bibliographies appearing from December 1984 to May 1989 in the journal "Research in the Teaching of English." Considers the question of what has been learned from this large corpus of research. Focuses on topics on which little research has been done and areas in which enough work has…

The word processor is an effective tool for students composing poetry because of the formatting features and the ease of revision. This article includes several poetry writing activities and identifies software which can be utilized in teaching students to write poetry. (IAH)

Presents five reading activities including "Reading Buddies" (Joyce Kemp); "Documenting Reading and Writing Growth in the Primary Grades Using Informal Methods of Evaluation" (Clifford J. Kramer); "Problem Solving Our Way through Writers' Workshop" (Ann Walker Christensen); "Real Audiences for Real Writing"…

A process approach to writing instruction with learning-disabled students is presented, in which students are guided through the processes of planning, drafting, and revising text. The model emphasizes the interaction of the teacher and learner through such activities as conferences, prompting, modeling, peer collaboration, and dialogues about…

Offers suggestions to incorporate holistic reading and writing activities into existing curricula and classroom structure to create a print-rich environment in which children use reading and writing in meaningful ways. (MG)

Uses boxes, bottles, bags, brochures, and other print materials to create more interesting and more effective whole language lessons. (MG)