Teaching Authentic Language Arts in a Test-Driven Era

Most pre-service education students are enthusiastic about the progressive, constructivist, and student-centered theory and practice advocated in many teacher education programs and by the National Council of Teachers of English. Yet in actual day-to-day practice, teachers often have trouble thinking of ways in which such student-centered and constructivist practices in literacy instruction can be implemented in classrooms which are increasingly driven by high stakes tests, increased accountability, and mandated and even teacher proof scripted curricula. Teaching Authentic Language Arts in a Test-Driven Era shows how teachers overwhelmed by a testing- and accountability-driven curriculum can still develop meaningful instruction and authentic student engagement with the Language Arts curriculum.

Arthur T. Costigan is Assistant Professor of Education at Queens College, City University of New York.