The author primarily teaches traditional high school English texts in a largely white, middle-class school, but the method she uses allows her to address important issues relevant to students. One unit she teaches is an investigation of the criminal justice system and a variety of issues related to the school-to-prison pipeline. A crucial text…

"Teacher to Teacher" provides a forum for teachers to share ideas, materials, and activities. In this article, the first teacher describes the effects the well-known novel "Bleachers" (John Grisham, New York: Doubleday, 2003) had on a ninth-grade english class. The novel bought to life the high school culture that the students found challenging.…

Two examples of the types of classroom-proven, research-based activities and ideas are presented. These are expected to spark and inspire new ideas that could be used to argue the repertoire of resources.

Annotations of noteworthy novels like Holes by Louis Sachar (1999), Tangerine by William Bloor (1998), Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas (1997) etc. are given. Tips for teaching these books or others that teachers might choose to use and others like them are provided.

Black feminist literary theory offers tools that teachers can use to initiate discussions on the issues of race, gender and class to analyze the works of adolescent literature. This feminist theory helps in reading and teaching literature about parallel cultures, like African-Americans and their love for self and community and their recognition of…

The methods used by a teacher to engage at-risk high school students in reading and writing are highlighted. It is reported that students are provided with the first steps of success, language awareness and a sense of belonging in the school and the community.

Considers how many times the English curricula overlooks the necessity for thorough revision by stressing quantity over quality. Discusses how teachers can fully integrate the writing process between various projects, tests and quizzes, and the examination of literary works to improve their students' writing skills without straying too far from…

Presents three teachers' suggestions for teaching grammar. Discusses how the first teacher suggests studying active and passive voice, the second teacher has students construct slang dictionaries, and the third teacher uses sentence combining that engages students and encourages carryover to their writing. (SG)

Considers how with no training in how to teach vocabulary skills, many teachers transfer to their classroom the same techniques that they see test makers using. Offers a chart to encourage thinking about the ways that standardized testing techniques differ from good teaching and learning practices. Argues that educators should provide students…

Challenges some problematic issues of grammar instruction. Transforms inconsequential discussion of nouns, adverbs, and past participles to more significant discussion about writing, access, and improving the world. Explores four activities to do with student writing other than correct grammar. (SG)

Notes that as the author explored the reasons behind students' difficulties with organization, coherence, and revision, and as she developed strategies for addressing the root causes, she found she was teaching grammar and not usage. Concludes that care should be taken to align instructional methods with the nature of subject matter. (SG)

Presents an example illustrating how teachers can create reading and writing activities that emphasize how words work through grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and usage. Describes a workshop that highlights a single punctuation mark: the semicolon. Notes that the semicolon defies rigid rules for use and is therefore ideally suited for instruction…

Suggests that the best writing curriculum for second language students is one that balances content and form, that calls for an attention to writing process and to written product, and that draws on knowledge from both teacher and student. Describes the "focus on form" approach the author uses in her mainstream basic writing class, as well as some…

Focuses on the need to reevaluate the teaching of grammar and mechanics. Examines how to create a meaningful, practical system for teachers and students. Defines "glossing" as a method whereby the student corrects an error identified by the teacher and then states the grammatical rule that applies. Notes that this process allows teachers to assess…

Describes the author's approach to teaching a required course, Applied Linguistics for Teachers of English. Presents 17 "Word Play du Jour" activities that can set the tone for meaningful and engaging lessons about language. Lists activities at the word, sentence, and "whole thing" levels. (SG)