USING MATERIALS
Instructional materials are essential tools in the English language arts
classroom. They allow students to interact with words, images, and ideas in ways
that develop their abilities in multiple literacies such as reading, listening,
viewing, thinking, speaking, writing, and technology. Because instructional
materials are a primary resource for English language arts teachers, they must
be selected wisely.
The cornerstone of consistent, pedagogically sound selection practices is a
clear, written policy for the selection of materials in the English language
arts program. Such a policy not only helps teachers to achieve program goals,
but also helps schools protect the integrity of programs increasingly under
pressure from censors, propagandists, and commercial interests.
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