Teachers interested in transforming their traditional kindergartens into child-centred Whole Language classrooms now have a model for change.

This seminal collection brings together the multiple perspectives of whole language educators over the course of the past thirty-five years. The essays illustrate the complex ways in which whole language teachers have been and continue to be political activists through their interactions with students; the teachers' beliefs about teaching, learning, and curriculum; their commitment to critical thinking and social justice; their collaborative engagements with other teachers; their role as leaders of change in schools and communities; and, finally, their activism in society. Although many believe that we are living in a climate where the term «whole language» is considered taboo, the contributors to this book demonstrate hopefulness for the future of whole language: as Yetta and Ken Goodman write in the concluding chapter, «whole language is alive and well.»

The essays collected here span 20 years of Courtney Cazden's research on written language and its acquisition.

The impetus for this book emerged from a conference that brought together publishers, and reading researchers and educators for the purpose of examining the best available research evidence about what we know -- and what we have yet to learn -- about the teaching of reading and about how children learn to read. The goal of the conference was to contribute to a sound research base upon which to develop classroom practices that will ensure that every American child will become fully literate. Because the field is still so deeply divided over the best ways to translate belief into classroom practice, the editors decided to highlight rather than gloss over these divisions. It is hoped that the papers in this volume will promote thought and discussion that will lead to action in improving reading instruction for children, now and into the new century.

This book presents a debate between "reasonable" educators who either claim that there is evidence for the effectiveness of whole language, or who challenge the claim that whole language works across the broad spectrum of learners. The book presents the debate in the form of formal debate resolutions, opening "statements," transcripts of a "face-to-face shoot-out" at a convention of the National Reading Conference in San Antonio, Texas, further written responses, and commentary on the debate. Contents of the book are: "'And the Winner Is...!' The Context of the Debate" (Carl B. Smith); "Call Me Teacher" (Susan Ohanian); "Whole Language and Research: The Case for Caution" (Michael C. McKenna and others); "Moderator's Comments" (Carl B. Smith); "The Answer Is Yes..." (Patrick Shannon); "Unlike Patrick, We Do Accept Reality..." (Michael McKenna); "Who the Hell Are You?" (Susan Ohanian); "Let Us Not Permit Ourselves to Be Forced into Bitterly Polarized Positions..." (Richard Robinson); "Audience Participation" (moderated by Carl B. Smith); "People Who Live in Glass Houses..." (Patrick Shannon); "Emerging Perspectives on Whole Language" (Michael C. McKenna and others); "Whole Language: Now More Than Ever" (Shelley Harwayne); "Is Whole Language 'The Real Thing'? Advertisements and Research in the Debate on Whole Language" (Steven Stahl); "New Questions, Different Inquiries" (Jerome Harste); and "Commentary on the ERIC Whole Language Debate" (Michael Pressley). A selected, annotated bibliography of approximately 1,000 items from the ERIC database concerning whole language is included. (RS)

The contributors to this volume represent the most prominent researchers and thinkers on issues in educating students with and without disabilities. The book captures the most current thinking, research, and analysis on the full range of issues in educating students with learning disabilities, from its definition to the most recent case law and interpretations of federal law on educating these students in the general education classroom. The contributors' words speak sufficiently, mellifluously, and exactingly about their contributions to the education of all students, in particular those with disabilities. This book of essays was written to pay tribute to Barbara D. Bateman, who -- along with Sam Kirk -- coined the term "learning disabilities." Its content reflects the significance of her contributions to the field of special education.