Bridging English, fourth edition, is a comprehensive English methods text that is structured on James Moffett’s conception of the “universe of discourse” in the teaching of English: talking and listening, writing and reading.    The book combines theory and practice, that is, overarching structures with particular instructional strategies.  It provides prospective teachers with a huge array of approaches and activities that are active, constructivist, and student-centered.  It mirrors that emphasis with boxed Invitations to Reflection that continually survey its readers about their experiences of English classrooms, their new learnings as they read the text, and their projection into classroom teaching of their own.  It takes into account the range of student learners a teacher will teach from the gifted to the reluctant and struggling.  It addresses the special needs of English language learners.  It also anticipates the need of its readers – prospective teachers – to put theory and method into practice by designing and delivering effective units and lessons.  In several chapters on pedagogy, it helps them answer questions such as: How do I actually teach writing? design a unit? evaluate student learning?  This edition also addresses many of the most persistent issues that arise within the field, issues that bubble up in individual classrooms, English departments, and school communities and in the general culture.  Pre-service English Teachers

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Chapter 1 — Envisioning English

Chapter 2 — Designing Instruction

Chapter 3 — Centering on Language

Chapter 4 — Developing an Oral Foundation

Chapter 4 — Developing an Oral Foundation

Chapter 5 — Responding to Literature

Chapter 6 — Celebrating Poetry

Chapter 7 — Opening Texts

Chapter 8 — Engaging Drama

Chapter 9 — Assaying Nonfiction

Chapter 10 — Making Media Matter

Chapter 11 — Inspiring Writing

Chapter 12 — Enabling Writing

Chapter 13 — Evaluating Learning

Chapter 14 — Planning Lessons

Chapter 15 — Becoming a Complete Teacher

 

Appendix A

NCTE and IRA Standards for the English Language Arts

Appendix B

Meiers’ Independent Project for English: Collecting and Writing a Personal Anthology

Possible Literature Lessons on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116

Internet Resources (Compiled by Katherine Thompson)

Appendix C

Oral Language Resources

Appendix D

Rabinowitz’s Rules of Notice

Appendix E

U.S. Poet Laureates, 1937-2006

Brown’s Poetry Response Assignment, 1991-1992

Brown’s Explanation of Her Poetry Assignment’s Evolution

Brown’s Poetry Response Assignment, 2001-2006

Books on Poetry and Poetry Teaching

Appendix F

Works on Censorship

Appendix G

Smith’s Guide for Making Movies in the Classroom

Appendix H

Recommended Writing Textbooks

Appendix I

SAT Essay Exam Assessment: Diederich Scale

Appendix J

Developing a Unit: William Shakespeare

Appendix K

NCTE Organizations and Periodicals for the English Teacher

Educational Periodicals Recommended for the English Teacher

References

Index     \n

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