Discusses the genre of fantasy novels, noting its popularity with adolescent readers (especially boys). Notes sources helpful to teachers and school librarians, and lists a few personal favorite fantasy novels. Offers a brief note on whether the Harry Potter books can be considered young adult literature. (SR)

Presents brief descriptions from 8 middle and high school teachers of various ways they have successfully incorporated history into the English curriculum, including using historical fiction; doing prior research; using interdisciplinary projects coordinated with the history teacher; a women's suffrage unit; linking world literature with classes…

Offers the author's perspective on English education in the 1970s using articles published in "English Journal" while he was editor from 1973 to 1980. (SR)

Focuses on the changing relationships between males and females in the National Council of Teachers of English from its inception to the present. Discusses changing relationships between the sexes in English departments, including graduate students and faculty. Describes differing approaches to the job of teaching, and recommends in general giving…

Offers quotes from articles about English teaching in the United States published in professional journals from 1847 to 1955. Suggests there never was a "golden age" of English teaching. Shows discussion and controversy about teaching writing, about what literature should be allowed in the schools, whether teaching grammar is worthwhile, and…

Argues that an understanding of developments in the 1890s (when disparate strands were brought together as one discipline--English--along with a movement toward uniform standards) can inform responses to current movements and initiatives. Outlines 5 significant initiatives that came to the author's attention during his editorship of "English…

Describes the author's experiences as editor of "English Journal" from 1994 to 1998. Describes the controversy and institutional pressures from above that attended her editorship, because of her devotion to publishing articles propounding widely varying views on controversial topics of heated debate within the profession. (SR)

Offers remarks on English teaching published in professional journals from 1886 to 1917, discussing the following questions: "Do I teach students or English or both?"; "Under what circumstances is English teaching done well?"; "What are the consequences of focused attention on English teaching?"; "With what challenges is the English teacher…

Describes a session at the Spring 1997 National Council of Teachers of English convention to honor Donald Murray's life and work. Summarizes several presentations, and offers excerpts from written testimonials capturing the essence of Murray's writing and teaching and explaining his irreplaceable personal and professional role. (SR)

Discusses the many contributions of Rewey Belle Inglis, a secondary English teacher, university English educator, and textbook publisher, as well as first woman president of the National Council of Teachers of English (1929). Discusses her professional credentials, her place in history, her writings (about teaching grammar and literature, teacher…

Discusses the work and contributions of Lou LaBrant, who became president of the National Council of Teachers of English in 1954, and who was one of the foremost progressive practitioners of reading and writing instruction. Discusses her research, her teaching, her experience, and her lifelong insistence that the writing curriculum had to be…

Discusses the work of New Zealand educator and writer Sylvia Ashton-Warner. Describes her organic philosophy and how it is the basis for whole-language teaching; describes her Key Vocabulary method. Discusses adapting organic learning and whole language to upper-level literacy teaching. Discusses group inquiry learning and personalized teaching.…

Offers brief excerpts from oral history interviews with eight National Council of Teachers of English leaders on a variety of topics, including: formative years; becoming interested in teaching; experiences as a beginning teacher; teaching writing; being an African American teacher; literature and humanness. (SR)

Suggests elements of the basic structure of the National Council of Teachers of English has remained the same for decades, while other elements have grown. Looks at positive growth in NCTE over the last two decades of the 20th century, noting research, women's issues, the standards wars, and affiliates as political bases. Describes two important…

Argues that literature from other countries, taught as multicultural literature, must be taught in the context of its own literary tradition in order to provide high-quality academic instruction. Offers an example with Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One-Hundred Years of Solitude" to show how teaching multicultural literature can live up to its…