Discusses how 4 teachers handle writing assignments, response, grading, portfolios, time allotted for completion of assignments, and classroom environment for English-as-a-second-language students. (RS)

Discusses teaching English in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where the majority of students have acquired English as an additional language. Suggests that teaching English in these classes presents rewarding and frustrating challenges--challenges which are at least as rewarding and frustrating for students as they are for teachers. Describes the ESL…

Provide a brief, selective history of teaching English as a second language (from Colonial times to World War II). (RS)

Addresses the cultural diversity that exists in English-as-a-second-language classrooms. Discusses a Halloween story unit developed to help students bridge cultural differences. (RS)

Discusses providing a comfortable, challenging, and meaningful classroom environment in a multicultural environment. Argues that introducing literature in a positive, supportive fashion is of major importance for all students, but that English-as-a-second-language (ESL) learners may need extra motivation. Discusses ways to introduce literature to…

Discusses an English teacher's approaches to introducing English-as-a-second-language students to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Notes that the students responded with more enthusiasm than they had to any other selection they had read, and that the teacher had underestimated her students' ability to understand Shakespeare. (RS)

Describes a series of e-mail writing assignments and other online writing activities for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students. Suggests that computers help improve ESL students' writing. (RS)

Presents a dialog among three English teachers concerning teaching performance poetry to ninth graders. (RS)

Discusses how students can learn history and use research skills as they study the genre of biography. Presents a biography unit on Western artist Charles M. Russell. (RS)

Presents an informal dialogue on teaching poetry in diverse settings. Shares teachers' success stories in teaching poetry. Notes basic principles--students must write poetry, hear poetry read aloud, and be aware of how people of other cultures express their feelings. (RS)

Offers possibilities for integrating race and gender issues into the fabric of the English language arts classrooms. Presents six brief activities that raise the issues. Presents 20 brief activities to further engage students in race/gender issues. (RS)

Offers an account of the second International Conference on Language and Literacy, held August 11-14, 1996. Discusses presentations by Tom Romano, Linda Reif, and Nancie Atwell. (RS)

Describes attempts to invite new teachers to explore, extend, and even transform their beliefs about multicultural education in the context of language arts and literacy. Shares examples of activities completed by two groups of beginning teachers. (RS)

States that persuasion as a discourse mode in composition classrooms tends to emphasize conflict and polarize students' positions. Proposes a "negotiative" mode of writing, focusing on the reader to achieve a cooperative settlement to opposing argument positions. Uses strategies including dialogic styles and structures that address issues of…

Follows the progress of seventh-grade students as they plan, compose, revise, and edit a group novel. States that, using computers, students worked in peer groups developing chapters independently; then they shared work and applied revision practices developing from their views of emerging text. Shows how the project gave the group a sense of…