Offers a case study of one student's struggles with the demands of school literacy throughout his primary school years. Illustrates how such children rely on the innovation, energy, and good will of individual teachers; and how his fragile literacy is under threat in the transition to more fragmented learning environment of secondary school. (SR)

Suggests that young people's out-of-school cultural experiences were profoundly significant in developing their learning and expressive potential. Suggests that media education should be framed in terms of understanding what young people can learn and make as they are addressed and given opportunities by mass culture and digital technology. (SC)

Cautions that Year 3 and Year 5 Literacy Benchmarks, which set minimum literacy and numeracy standards for all Australian students, can measure but cannot transform student outcomes. Calls upon English professionals to put forth constructive suggestions for effective teaching methods that will enable students to reach the required goals. (NH)

Discusses the formulation of the Australian Literacy Benchmarks for Year 3 and Year 5. Suggests they (1) lay claim to designating a minimum standard; (2) represent "fuzzy" standards; and (3) are a composite based on a number of underlying criteria. Claims teachers' knowledge of student literacy achievement is a richer source of valid assessment…

Claims the Australian Literacy Benchmarks for Year 3 and Year 5 set unrealistic standards, are educationally unworkable, and represent an unacceptably imprecise and confusing set of statements and criteria. Compares the Literacy Benchmarks with the New South Wales English Language and Literacy Assessment (ELLA). Claims the Benchmarks represent a…

Provides support for using computer games in the English curriculum, as texts of the new technologies, to strengthen links between students' in-school and out-of-school worlds. Claims that far from presenting a threat to accepted literacy practices, the games help students gain an awareness of how texts work and become more reflexive about the…

Claims that computer games have little educational value, are antisocial, and classroom time should be spent on more worthwhile pursuits. Argues that computer games are not literary texts in that they cannot inform students of their cultural heritage, provide an opportunity to respond to ethical questions, or deal with significant and lasting…

Reports on the conference proceedings of the Australian Association of Teachers of English. (RB)

Discusses the satisfactions that children may derive from performance in the culturally important medium of language--performance that embodies their own intentions. (RB)

Analyzes the Bullock commission's view on the methodology of beginning reading instruction with special reference to i.t.a. (RB)

Presents 6 sample lessons with resource materials useful at the elementary and secondary levels. (RB)

Concludes that there is not a discernible trend toward realism in children's literature. (RB)

Discusses the role of the home and the school in remedying language problems of the culturally disadvantaged. (RB)

Present 8 sample lessons for use by English teachers attempting to improve the language skills of their students. (RB)