This article introduces a special section on the whole-language approach. The five articles discuss whole language's roots, whole language in the classroom, two schools that have embraced whole language, and whole-language resources. (SM)

This paper suggests a route to deep, long-term algebra reform that begins not with more new approaches but with elementary school teachers and the reform efforts that currently exist. This route involves generalization and expression of that generality using increasingly formal languages, beginning with arithmetic, modeling situations, geometry,…

What matters about an educational activity is how learners respond to it. This article examines a program concerned with the learners' needs, through the expression of learners' own meanings, and advances the concept of investigative research as a suitable vehicle for more autonomous learning, through a change in learner status. (26 references)…

Uses the Socratic method as a point of departure and suggests steps that teachers can take to teach students how to formulate their own questions for better comprehension ability. (JK)

Reviews how a sophomore class of gifted students selected a subject for their learning logs; tells how to write a learning log; offers ideas on evaluating learning logs; presents student reflections on the use of learning logs. (JK)

Argues that comprehension-monitoring strategies (e.g., establishing learning goals, assessing the degree of goal achievement, and modifying strategies to better meet goals) enhances student success. Describes an experimental course for teaching these learning strategies, the training and instructional methods used, key variables in the…

College instructors should focus their teaching not only on content but also on how to learn content in the context of particular courses. Students need practice with a variety of learning strategies before they can understand why particular ones are most effective or be helped to improve their efficiency in using them. (Author/MSE)

Some teachers believe that children will not learn unless they are entertained. However, in "Talented Teenagers: The Roots of Success and Failure," Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi reports that teens are most interested in school when the classes are demanding and they can stretch their brain power. Only entertaining students will prepare them…

The responsibility of all teachers to help children develop spelling strategies is addressed in a series of articles in this journal supplement. Following an introduction by the editor, the articles and their authors are as follows: (1) "Development in Word Knowledge" (Peggy Goldsmith); (2) "Spelling Can Be Taught" (Faye Bolton…

Offers the final word on the measurement-driven instruction (MDI) debate in this "Kappan" issue. Claims that Popham's article is internally inconsistent and provides no examples of well-constructed, instructionally illuminative tests. Also lacking are teacher testimonials and evidence that MDI programs are cost-effective or oriented…

Reviews literature on (1) prerequisite skills students should develop prior to learning a textbook-study system, (2) teaching activities undertaken before introducing a system to a class, and (3) recommended procedures for teaching SQ3R. (FL)

Encouraging learning-disabled adolescents to find their own successful style of learning requires: (1) breaking down preconceptions about education; (2) breaking down preconceptions about self; and (3) reinforcing such principles as individual responsibility for choices. (DB)

This study used a seven-stage instructional methodology to successfully teach a comprehensive test-taking strategy to six secondary learning-disabled students. Evidence of maintenance and generalization is reported. In the second article, answers are presented to questions about strategy training in general and this study in particular. (Author/DB)

Television science programs cover a wide range of science topics, offer a variety of teaching methods, and motivate students. These programs tend to match educational trends, with new programs blending technological advances with speculation to interest students. (DF)

Presents placement test results showing a lack of understanding of basic math concepts among entering college students. Explains the application of the learning cycle model in teaching abstract mathematical concepts and offers examples of the model's use. (DMM)