Communities across the country are grappling with different approaches to improving their schools. Introducing or expanding charter schools is one of the approaches that states and school districts have considered or implemented. Charter schools serve more than 5 percent of public school students nationwide and make up close to 7 percent of all…

Described is a grammar program, "The Drama of Grammar," which engages students in exploring language through active participation in numerous activities. It is based on the recognition that children already know and use the language system, and builds on that knowledge. (KC)

Discusses some of the factors such as cultural attitudes, student expectations, and teaching methods that affect and impede the teaching of college-level courses in music appreciation. An alternative teaching approach, which presents ways composers have portrayed events in the human life cycle, is described. (AM)

Offered are suggestions to teachers for introducing improvisation into the classroom. Improvisational activities include movement, vocal, and related arts projects. (KC)

Described is a jury trial involving intermediate grade students as defendants, lawyers, and jury, with an adult as judge. It is suggested that it is important to deal with serious offenses at school in a democratic way that involves students in decision making. (KC)

The authors suggest that simply by changing the method of questioning, a teacher can change not only the intellectual demands in the classroom, but also the range of thinking strategies that provide for understanding and competence. (KC)

Defines psychic intelligence as an inclination all children possess to use whatever cognitive intelligence they have for learning, adaptive behavior, and pleasure; strongly suggests that algorithmic drill usually damages the mentality of children by stifling psychic intelligence; and discusses the use of pocket calculators to prevent this effect.…

Discusses the use of the opinion poll technique which requires students to take a stand on an issue and to defend or give reasons for taking the stand they chose. Students become aware of their values and how they affect decisions. Issues for elementary students are suggested. (RM)

The author presents a rationale and specific techniques for teaching grammar in the high school. (SJL)

The authors review some of the literature which discusses the controversy over the value of homework and then offer 11 prescriptions for teachers to follow when making homework assignments. They suggest the need for additional research into the learning processes in children. (KC)

Outlines an approach for teaching journalism students to write editorials by following a five-step sequence: gaining readers' attention, indicating a need for action, leading readers to agree with a proposed action, enabling readers to visualize the proposal successfully enacted, and cementing readers' favorable attitudes into fixed beliefs. (TJ)

The technique of using toy cameras for both black-and-white and color photography in the art class is described. The author suggests that expensive equipment can limit the growth of a beginning photographer by emphasizing technique and equipment instead of in-depth experience with composition fundamentals and ideas. (KC)

Described is the Emile Jaques-Dalcroze method of improvisation, which he believed was the study of the direct relations between cerebral commands and muscular interpretations in order to express one's own musical feelings. Performance is propelled by developing the students' powers of sensation, imagination, and memory. (Author/KC)

Reactions to a two-week workshop are given. Conclusions are that chisanbop has presented a misleading picture and is highly overrated. (MP)

The paper challenges recent criticism of higher education curricula as "biased." Teachers are encouraged not to attempt to rid their teaching of such "bias" but to state and defend positions, however controversial, for the furthering of students' critical capacities. (Author/DB)