Teaching Authentic Language Arts in a Test-Driven Era

<p>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. <em>Teaching Authentic Language Arts in a Test-Driven Era</em> provides a powerful and much-needed counterargument to the assumption that test-driven curricula preclude meaningful instruction and authentic student engagement within a Language Arts curriculum. Providing teachers with the theoretical stances and pedagogicals tools to develop a Language Arts practice which can be personally rewarding as well as beneficial to students<em>Teaching Authentic Language Arts in a Test-Driven Era</em> empowers teachers to be effective even within the confines of a testing- and accountability-driven curriculum.</p>