Teaching Elementary Language Arts: A Balanced Approach emphasizes the blend of theory and practice in teaching the language arts to elementary students. This edition continues to focus on the language arts as thinking processes and on students as active consumers of information. It is not solely a “theory” text, since a practical approach is emphasized throughout to help teachers effectively implement a dynamic language arts program.

Controversies are explained from several viewpoints to help teachers see through “either/or” dichotomies and to recognize that there is usually no one `right' way to do things. The book stresses that good teachers are eclectics who utilize those approaches, methods and strategies that best suit the needs of their students. By explaining and analyzing the various outlooks, methods, and movements prevalent in the field, the author outlines a practical, balanced approach to teaching language arts.