Bridging English, by Joseph O'Beirne Milner and Lucy Floyd Morcock Milner
ISBN: 0137929463
See it at Amazon.com
Review by: Jon Labrousse

I have the second edition.  It's now in its fourth edition.  I'm sorry--it's not cheap.  However, this book was the best thing about my certification program at the UO.  Hands down.

The book couches an enormous number of engaging, fun, interactive activities in a strong language pedagogy.  It shapes "English" class into what it should be: a place for students to develop their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in English.  Not a 'literature appreciation'  exercise.

Each chapter breaks up the 'content' with personal reflection exercises, personal writing and oral exercises for the teacher (reader), and a ton of student activities for the teacher to use to support the ideas presented.

Here are the chapter titles:
1. Envisioning English
2. Centering on Language
3. Developing an Oral Foundation
4. Responding to Literature
5. Reviving Poetry
6. Expanding Literacy
7. Assaying Nonfiction
8. Making Media Matter
9. Compelling Writing
10. Enabling Writing
11. Organizing Instruction
12. Planning the Lesson
13. Evaluating Learning
14. Becoming a Complete Teacher

There are, additionally, a number of appendixes, mostly booklists and suggestions for poems and pieces to accompany the various activities in the book.

What's cool about the book, is each chapter discusses the philosophy, ideology, and pedagogy for each of the topics, explores the real value and need for each of the ideas for developing English speakers/writers/readers/listeners, and gives you fantastic activities to support what it's made you think about.

It is absolutely packed with activities, examples, suggestions...  This book is the most comprehensive, useful, and meaningful learning/teaching tool I've found for 'English' teachers. 

I use a ton of other books for specific purposes: writing prompts, structuring writing groups, editing, etc.  I wouldn't pay $85 for those.  I would for this book.  It has no peers.