Describes a high school mini-course called "Gender Bender" (a survey course of the contemporary literature on gender differences) that studied gender issues that were troubling high school students. Describes how the course discussed gender and schooling; gender roles in society; images in the media; dating, marriage, and divorce; and…

Describes a high-school course called "Autobiography" that discusses nonfiction and gender. Describes how students write their autobiographies piecemeal while reading and discussing a partly autobiographical work of fiction, and how the course eventually centers around identifying biases of different sorts in one's own and in others' writing.…

Argues that language is the primary vehicle through which stereotyping is perpetuated. Outlines assignments that offer students an opportunity to explore gender stereotyping, to learn to recognize and combat gender bias, and to treat others equally, regardless of gender. Notes also some statewide programs that address these issues and help…

Describes how the author uses a poem by Marge Piercy called "Barbie Doll" to help students discover for themselves the implicit power of gender. Describes how students (1) examine the poem's language and have lively and insightful discussions as they find meanings for themselves; and (2) extend and elaborate on these meanings as they create a…

Describes a high-school gender-studies course that used the structure of mythology and folk tradition as a basis for examining contemporary works of literature. Notes that the course provided students the opportunity to reflect on gender roles, on the lives of men and women in other cultures, and on students' own relationships within gender…

Discusses why a women's literature course is necessary to combat the web of gender bias woven throughout literature, schools, and society. Describes the creation and proposal of a curriculum for such a class at the high school level. Notes objections from male teachers and outlines responses. Describes how the course was proposed to, and turned…

Describes how a high school English teacher uses the metaphor of "lenses" to help her students learn to see through the eyes of another and come to understand their experiences. Discusses how this fosters students' awareness of gender as a lens to view the world; reduces their resistance to acknowledging other viewpoints; and encourages awareness…

Presents the annual "Honor List" of books for young adults for 1997. Offers substantial descriptions of eight books with an unlikely assortment of heroes. (SR)

Discusses the dilemmas faced by middle and high school teachers whose students are struggling to read, yet whose training does not prepare them to solve this problem. Describes the Reading Initiative, a program that will support teacher development through study groups to help teachers improve both the teaching and learning of reading through…

Presents a conversation between the teacher of a first-year college composition course and a high school English/language arts teacher regarding what they do in the college composition course. Offers students' insights and suggestions about how they might most effectively be prepared for such a course. (SR)

Presents 13 short descriptions from 13 different English teachers describing the most effective writing assignment they have ever given. (SR)

Presents the author's (she is a well known poet, essayist, and fiction writer) 10 commandments of writing that portray writing as a moral force, an ethical practice, and also mundane plain and simple hard work. The commandments are in the form of quotes from famous writers. (SR)

Describes a student-conceived, student-executed class research project carried out in a high school English class in which students investigated the issue of teenagers and the law. Notes the enthusiastic work contributed by students otherwise largely hostile to school, some of whom skipped all of their classes except English that term. (SR)

Describes ninth-grade English classes interviewing international students regarding their experiences and feelings about the journeys that brought them to the United States. Discusses how students from diverse cultures began to know one another, and how the gathering and the publication of these stories helped faculty, administration, and students…

Describes how a high school English teacher went looking for and found Mexican-, Filipino-, African-, European-, and Native-American Literature, in order to bring all her students' worlds and voices into the classroom. Argues that all students must be included in an education that socializes them to a multicultural rather than a monocultural…