In spring of 2010, three high school teachers and their students paired with a college teacher and her advanced writing class to collaborate on oral history research and writing. While many people think of oral history as "just stories," the authors introduce it to students as a rigorous method for documenting historical events, cultural…

As teachers consider ethics, they find that it may often look like a student issue. It may be discussions of plagiarism, social justice, honesty, bullying, privacy, child labor, free speech, inequity. However, even as teachers struggle with ways to model ethics or "teach" ethics, they find that their teaching practices may warrant reflection. One…

As a teacher of Bowling Green State University's English 3810, Grammar and Writing, the author is charged with teaching future language arts teachers how to teach grammar so that it actually helps their students become better writers and communicators. Because such teaching rejects the ineffective but time-honored drill-it-and-kill-it approach, in…

About 10 years ago, Robert J. Connors's article "The Erasure of the Sentence" questioned the disappearance of writing style and examined the validity of some of the reasons given for its disappearance. Since that 2000 article, the study of style has undergone a kind of renaissance, with numerous books and articles on its uses in composition theory…

Considering ways to assess digital compositions and their results (i.e., media products) is an important part of the author's pedagogical practice as a teacher educator. Discovering ways to evaluate the quality, effectiveness, and efficacy of these compositions and products presents an important aspect of responsive, critical instruction. Yet this…

Self-directed writing is an opportunity for teachers to write with their students, and it is writing that ultimately ends up in the student's portfolio at mid-term and end of term. It is one component of a structured writing class in which students also do other writing assignments. It is important for teachers to communicate their expectations of…

New teachers often maintain informal contacts with classmates and instructors from their teacher training programs. It is common for teachers in training to rely on peers and instructors for support and guidance when they are in school. An abrupt break from those contacts can be a significant loss for new teachers who are attempting to find their…

Reframing the Great Rubric Debate beyond the taking of sides, Eric D. Turley and Chris W. Gallagher propose a set of questions designed to help educators assess the value of rubrics: (1) What is the tool for?; (2) In what context is it used?; (3) Who decides:; and (4) What ideological agenda drives those decisions? They contend that these four…

Beginning a school year with "Beowulf" seems to set things in their natural order. Students benefit from studying "Beowulf" in ways that their study of other ancient tales such as Greek legends and myths cannot compare. Not only does the tale provide students with an action-packed heroic adventure, but it also demonstrates the power of language…

While the college admissions guidebook industry has churned out numerous books and websites telling students what their essays should and should not do, most of those are written by former admissions officers, not by writers or teachers of writing, and almost all rely heavily on providing models of top admissions essays. As a result, students who…

The Advanced Placement (AP) exams have a significant impact on teaching English and the AP scores are recognized by most of the colleges and universities in the United States. The limitations of timed, standardized writing are discussed.

Suggests that in order to revitalize grammar and the teaching of grammar, educators must find ways to encourage teachers to recognize, understand, and find creative energy in the opposing demands of state requirements and solid linguistic research. Concludes that good English teachers must know enough about linguistics in order to teach English…

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…

Describes six categories of websites on grammar. Considers the advantages and disadvantages that Internet grammar provides. Presents an annotated list of 15 web sites on grammar. Suggests adopting a positive but cautious approach to grammar on the Internet. Concludes that grammar on the Internet is a potentially helpful resource to use in addition…