From time to time, Field Notes offers an "open" issue. Without the structure of a theme, writers can submit articles on topics outside of a prescribed subject, and that's just what happened here.

Jane Schwerdtfeger from the Department of Education's Adult and Community Learning Services offers up-to-date information on the status of the curriculum frameworks. Dan O'Malley, a counselor at the Hampden County House of Correction, shares a shorter version of a paper for his doctoral degree on the No Child Left Behind Act and its effect on ABE teachers and students. Writing from her perspective as an education professor at Suffolk University where she teaches courses in instructional design, Barbara Ash suggests three ways ABE teachers can contribute to their profession. Joanne Mason reflects on her own language learning process and how that informs her classroom practice. Some of you may recognize Linda Werbner's name from previous issues of Field Notes. (Think Jack Kerouac in the writing issue.) Linda sends a piece from Russia, where she examines the changing use of textbooks in the Russian classroom.

As always, we include a piece of student writing. Oggie Djizov, a student of Mary Ann Sliwa's from the Field Notes Advisory Board, contributes an article about his experiences in a career exploration mini-grant project. Another advisory board member, Ellen Bourne, interviewed Christine Taylor of the Framingham Adult ESL Program for this issue. The interview tells a story about the rise of a successful, multi-site program from its humble beginnings.

Finally, this open issue gave me a chance to write a review of a powerful publication and to interview its author, Peggy Rambach. Under the Sugar Palm Trees captures the personal narratives of Cambodian refugees in vivid detail and would make an excellent addition to any ABE/ESL resource library.

We always welcome your submissions. Check out the last page of each issue for upcoming topics and deadlines. If you have an idea for an article, please contact Lenore Balliro, editor, at lballiro@worlded.org.

And remember that back issues of Field Notes can be found online at www.sabes.org/resources/publications/fieldnotes. You can also find submission guidelines and frequently asked questions about the submission process.