Perspectives In Whole Language

Pressured by a society searching for a simple solution to a complex problem, educators are constantly subjected to a double standard and their work and role marginalized as insignificant despite compelling evidence to the contrary. This enlightening discussion of the misperceptions about the profession offers a thoughtful perspective on the real work done by educators and examines some of the harm done by efforts to "fix" what is wrong. There is not a group of professionals in the work world who must bear as many demands, yet who are so often undervalued as educators. Norris calls attention to the sociological and physical factors that often influence the work of educators, discussing the general perception of the teaching profession, as well as more specific issues such as reform, research, and political agendas. In a scholarly format, he reports on the double standards, demands, and high expectations that teachers are forced to overcome in order to be successful. This is must reading for anyone concerned about the status of teachers and teaching today.

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.»

Two world renowned educators, Paulo Freire and Ira Shor, speak passionately about the role of education in various cultural and political arenas. They demonstrate the effectiveness of dialogue in action as a practical means by which teachers and students can become active participants in the learning process. In a lively exchange, the authors illuminate the problems of the educational system in relation to those of the larger society and argue for the pressing need to transform the classroom in both Third and First World contexts. Shor and Freire illustrate the possibilities of transformation by describing their own experiences in liberating the classroom from its traditional constraints. They demonstrate how vital the teacher's role is in empowering students to think critically about themselves and their relation, not only to the classroom, but to society. For those readers seeking a liberatory approach to education, these dialogues will be a revelation and a unique summary. For all those convinced of the need for transformation, this book shows the way.

Language Variation - European Perspectives VI showcases a selection of papers from the 8th International Conference on Language Variation in Europe which was held in Leipzig in 2015. The volume includes plenaries by Miriam Meyerhoff and Steffen Klaere (“The large and the small of it: Big issues with smaller samples in the study of language variation”), Martin Haspelmath and Susanne Maria Michaelis (“Analytic and synthetic: Typological change in varieties of European languages”) and Jürgen Erich Schmidt (“Dynamics, variation and the brain“). In addition, the editors have selected 11 papers which exemplify the breadth of research on European languages. The contributions to this volume encompass languages as varied as Swedish, Greek, Galician, Dutch, German, Swedish, English (including English-lexified contact varieties), French, Spanish, Croatian, Luxembourgish and Romani. The variety of theoretical frameworks and methodological perspectives and particularly the combination of different methods attests to the scope of research currently being conducted on language variation and change in European languages.

Philosophical theorizing about language now involves an increasing emphasis on empirical work and a renewed convergence with philosophy of mind, formal semantics and logic. This new text reflects this evolution. Philosophical Perspectives on Language is distinguished in several important respects from other introductions to the topic. Rather than looking at philosophy of language as a collection of (at best) loosely related topics—speech acts, demonstratives, sense and reference, truth and meaning, etc.—this book is organized around a unifying theme: language as a system of symbols that is known and used.

J. Amos Hatch offers a methods book that speaks directly to novice qualitative researchers in the field of education, providing a step-by-step guide to the development of a research project. Written in accessible language, the book emphasizes learning how to do qualitative work. Specific examples from real studies, using real data, and demonstrating real analyses are provided throughout. The book is designed to guide doctoral candidates through the dissertation process, from unpacking assumptions and identifying research questions, through project design, data collection, and analysis, to writing the final draft. Recommendations for writing and publishing qualitative work are included.

Translingual Pedagogical Perspectives addresses the movement toward translingualism in the writing classroom and demonstrates the practical pedagogical strategies faculty can take to represent both domestic and international monolingual and multilingual students’ perspectives in writing programs. Contributors explore approaches used by diverse writing programs across the United States, insisting that traditional strategies used in teaching writing need to be reimagined if they are to engage the growing number of diverse learners who take composition classes. The book showcases concrete and adaptable writing assignments from a variety of learning environments in postsecondary, English-medium writing classrooms, writing centers, and writing programs populated by monolingual and multilingual students. By providing descriptive and reflective examples of how understanding translanguaging can influence pedagogy, Translingual Pedagogical Perspectives fills the gap between theoretical inquiry surrounding translanguaging and existing translingual pedagogical models for writing classrooms and programs. Additional appendixes provide a variety of readings, exercises, larger assignments, and other entry points, making Translingual Pedagogical Perspectives useful for instructors and graduate students interested in engaging translingual theories in their classrooms. Contributors: Daniel V. Bommarito, Mark Brantner, Tania Cepero Lopez, Emily Cooney, Norah Fahim, Ming Fang, Gregg Fields, Mathew Gomes, Thomas Lavalle, Esther Milu, Brice Nordquist, Ghanashyam Sharma, Naomi Silver, Bonnie Vidrine-Isbell, Xiqiao Wang, Dan Zhu