Engaging in the Language Artsis a new book that defines the discipline of language arts. This book emphasizes the need for teachers to draw upon the language power of students--the best language resource in their classrooms--in order to succeed in teaching to our increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse student body. Engaging in the Language Arts enables teachers to identify their students' language possibilities and know how to make optimal use of these possibilities in their classrooms. Distinguished author team Donna Ogle and Jim Beers have crafted an ideal book for instructors seeking a focus on contemporary communication and visual literacy, using varied genre and electronic resources. Ogle and Beers present a lively narrative, clear organization, exceptional pedagogy and special features that bring the language arts to life for teachers. Unlike comparable books, Engaging in the Language Arts helps teachers ensure that students learn to use language to communicate with others, to explore ideas, and to demonstrate their learning orally and in written formats.While covering all of the basic writing processes, the book places a unique emphasis on the actual purpose behind teaching writing and also includes classroom-based assessments and activities reflecting state and national standards that provide important resources to help teachers differentiate instruction.