Focusing on black communication skills in the classroom can be rewarding, instructional, and motivational for both black and white students when educators begin to build upon the effectiveness of black language patterns and usages. This packet of curriculum materials was designed for class, group, and individual instruction in the use of black folk types and features (i.e., folk song-types, black folk sermons, black folk verbal strategies, folk literature by known Black-American authors, and non-standard English dialects). In addition to lists of African-American types of folk literature (e.g., story telling, folk sermons, and blues), African-American verbal strategies (e.g., rapping, jiving, and sounding), the stylistic and thematic features of Black-American folk tradition, important terms, the packet includes general and specific suggestions regarding instructional activities that use folk songs, spirituals, jokes, folk sermons, and literary works to teach about the effective use of dialects and language styles, and about rhetoric and composition. In addition, oral and written assignments, a selected bibliography, and 43 references are provided. (GFW)