The plan and purpose of this book is to provide educationally sound theories and creative activities in the teaching of English. This Third Edition retains many of the activities that were included in previous editions but also offers much new material based on the most current research and practice in English education. The book provides, in great detail, proven and tested measures for teachers to use to be successful in their instructional efforts. Major topics well described include creating an effective classroom climate, preparation for group interaction, teaching oral English, the teaching of writing, teaching literature, reading in the English classroom, teaching the English language, developing thinking skills, and creating the English curriculum. In this new edition, the chapters on reading and teaching literature have been completely rewritten and include sections on literature circles and Socratic seminars. In addition, the chapter on writing updates the research on assessment and the use of portfolios and also includes practice and theory concerning the use of writing workshops. All of the 'Additional Reading' sections at the end of each chapter have been completely updated with the most current resources on theory, research, and practice. The book's easy-to-read style with the large number of teaching strategies, programs, and effective classroom activities that have been proven successful make this an essential resource for the English teacher.