Every classroom is unique with its group of students, its materials, and its technology. Teachers know that each student is an individual who has her own story, his own passions, her own struggles, and his own curiosities. Teachers also know that students need support in the classroom, be it books, supplies, lab equipment, or technology. NCTE has many resources to support teachers in their efforts to make sure each and every student is challenged, respected, encouraged, and accepted and that each classroom is equipped to help every child succeed. Thus, the Classroom Alphabet:
Artistic Students: English teachers recognize the value of the arts in teaching literacy as illustrated in the Literacy & NCTE blog entry, When You Cut the Arts, What Else Do You Lose?
Broadband and WiFi: NCTE also appreciates how critical access to technology is for all students.
Curriculum: NCTE provides a wide range of position statements on curriculum.
Deaf students: In her TETYC journal article, Listening for Silent Voices, Teaching Writing to Deaf Students and What It Can Teach Us About Composition Studies, Jessica Seessel describes the unique challenges and benefits of working with this group of students.
English Language Learners: NCTE published a position paper on the role of English teachers in educating English Language Learners.
Foster Children: This link provides an interactive map of foster children throughout the United States.
Grammar: What English classroom doesn’t dabble in grammar? See NCTE’s multiple position statements on the subject.
Homeless students: NCTE member, Melissa M. Juchniewicz, EdD, wrote a book, Visible Voices: Literacy and the Invisible Homeless.
Immigrant, Undocumented and Unaccompanied Youth: NCTE’s Resolution on the Dignity and Education of Immigrant, Undocumented, and Unaccompanied Youth illustrates its position that ALL children are to be treated with dignity and respect.
Journals: Peruse NCTE’s wide variety of journals.
Kleenex: Enough said.
LGBT Students: Check out this Resolution on Strengthening Teacher Knowledge of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Issues.
Musical Students and Xylophones: English teachers have the flexibility to incorporate the arts into their classrooms, particularly the musical and dramatic arts. In this English Journal article, Ernest Morrell and Jeffrey M.R. Duncan-Andrade discuss promoting academic literacy with urban youth through engaging hip-hop culture.
Notebooks: Explore the value of writer’s notebooks in NCTE member, Dana Murphy’s, delightful Creating Classroom Environments Introducing Writer’s Notebooks.
Onomatopoeia: ReadWriteThink, a collaborative project of NCTE and ILA, explores comic books that employ this technique.
Poor students: Over one-half of all public school students in the United States are low-income.
Quick Writes and Quizzes: Read Formative Assessment; Helping Students Grow from the Council Chronicle (March 2007) and NCTE’s many position statements on Assessment.
Reading: Requisite for every English classroom. See NCTE’s many position statements on Reading.
Standards: Every classroom has standards. See NCTE’s multiple position statements on Standards.
Tests and Assessments: NCTE has multiple position statements on Testing and Assessments.
Veterans: In 2013, more than 1 million veterans used their GI benefits to pursue higher education. The Conference on College Composition and Communication recognizes the unique strengths and challenges of veterans in college.
Zinfandel: (you wish it were in the classroom).
Happy New School Year!