Crossing Over: Teaching Meaning-Centered Secondary English Language Arts

by Harold M. Foster

This text for secondary preservice and in-service English language arts teachers offers a rationale for meaning-centered English language arts teaching and practical strategies for application. Its goal is to provide readers with an understanding of the issues involved in English teaching and specific examples of how to apply this understanding to classrooms. Teaching strategies are presented through a series of stories depicting teachers from a variety of settings practicing their craft with secondary students.

Features:
*A solid introduction and interesting personal narratives introduce the issues and ideas involved in English language arts teaching.
*Case studies based on actual teachers and students realistically illustrate methods that can be used in secondary English classes.
*Lessons are described in sufficient detail to be converted to teaching models.
*Multicultural emphasis prepares teachers for the contemporary classroom.
*Chapters and sections incorporate the new literacies of TV, film, and computers in the English language arts class.
*Pedagogical aids include end-of-chapter questions and activities, reproducible charts and worksheets; an updated listing of young adult novels; and annotated recommended readings.
*An appendix on writing a personal narrative helps students develop as writers.

New in the Second Edition:
*Updates. All chapters, the bibliographies, and the references are thoroughly updated to reflect changes since the first edition was published. Chapters 1 and 2 have been totally rewritten.
*Standards/Benchmarks. The IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts are incorporated into the text. Benchmarks and Performance Assessment Measures are included in all the pedagogical chapters to address proficiency concerns. A section on helping students prepare for state proficiency tests has been added.
*Computers. More is included on the use of technology, both as a content to learn and as a process for learning.
*New Sample Unit Plans. Sections based on the instructional stories offer examples to help readers prepare for teaching.
*Literature response questions. These are now provided in Chapter 4 for use in journaling and discussions.
*Glossary. A chapter on important terms and useful strategies for the English language arts classroom has been added.

406 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I didn't read every word of this book, I read the majority of almost every chapter and it is the kind of text I will probably keep coming back to in my student teaching and the beginning of my career. I have many friends who know the author personally and while it saddens me that he retired before I entered phase 3 of my program, during which he would have taught the classes I took these past semesters, I'm grateful to have his outstanding book in my arsenal.

[J.M. Brister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crossing Over: Teaching Meaning-Centered Secondary English Language Arts is a professional development text for English teachers. *Note: I may be a bit biased, since I have taken two classes from Dr. Foster at the University of Akron.

Dr. Foster divides this book up into the following aspects:
-A discussion on how creating meaning for students is of the utmost importance for teaching English
-Personal Narratives
-Reading Workshop
-Book discussion
-Drama
-Poetry
-Novels
-Writing
-New literacies, such as Film, Television, Etc.
-Assessments
-Several chapters on becoming and reflecting on being a teacher

With Foster's focus on getting students connected to a text should help any English teacher in the classroom. Even though this book has a 2002 copyright date, I found a lot of the strategies useful in the new world of Common Core standards. Overall, I would highly recommend this book.