Using the example of a teacher preparing a science review, describes the necessary elements of successful classroom writing. Students' interests, controlled vocabulary and sentence structure, and logic and clarity in the prepared material are stressed. (CJM)

Presents an activity to develop an understanding of the importance of definitions in mathematics in which the teacher uses counterexamples to produce modifications in proposed definitions for the concept of quadrilateral. Suggested follow-up activities include telephone description, dictionary mathematics, and definition displays. (MDH)

This report details an exploratory study that employs qualitative methods to characterize the academic language used by teachers and students in 4th and 5th grade mainstream science classrooms. Teacher oral language, and to some degree student talk, was observed during content instruction. This type of data allows for a broad descriptive…

Six captioned illustrations present humorous situations for classroom discussion. A list of appropriate German vocabulary words and phrases (and English translations) accompanies each illustration. (MSE)

Eight classroom warm-up games for the second language class are described, and related assignments are suggested. The activities include a game based on a teacher's explanation for his late arrival in class, a number-guessing game, an exercise in describing characters played by the teacher, a group discussion of a reading selection using fragments…

This paper discusses some of the results of a study conducted in Papua New Guinea on students' comprehension of 45 non-technical words used in science classes. Four words, "component,""devise,""exert," and "random," are considered in detail. (CW)

Consequences were withheld for high-rate gesture requests of 6 mentally handicapped individuals (ages 12-40), to increase the proportion of gestures used spontaneously. Results suggest that the teacher's nonresponding to high-rate spontaneous gesture requests increased individuals' use of previously taught but unused gesture requests. (Author/JDD)

A guide to enhancing classroom communication with limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in sheltered English includes ideas for planning and presenting lessons. It gives suggestions for the use of gestures, language style, length of sentence, presentation of the main concept and supporting details, essential vocabulary, the organization of…

Magic motivates students to talk, and stimulates the affective domain. While watching magic, many people imagine how the effect is accomplished or how they might perform the trick if they were performing. This can be extended into an English lesson by using phrases such as, "If I were a magician, I could..." Total physical response…

Teachers can help deaf elementary students adjust to the total communication classroom setting by: evaluating signing skills; conducting a class orientation; submerging students in the sign language environment; using sign language vocabulary cards; offering sign language classes; encouraging peer tutoring; scheduling individual conferences; and…

Nine contributors discuss: short-term grouping to improve reading performance, using picture books to inspire creative writing, writing musicals in the classroom, reading aloud to remedial readers using book boards to motivate readers, and other topics. (FL)

Four ideas for French language instruction are presented, including an exploration of cultural and linguistic meaning in advertising; use of the Minitel database and computer capabilities; interpersonal communication games; and a vocabulary development and comprehension activity using text from a French weekly publication. (MSE)

Materials from a teacher workshop on the Total Physical Response method for teaching English as a second language are presented. The technique describes the process of first language acquisition, uses physical activities in the classroom to reinforce learning, and allows a long period of receptive language learning before requiring production. The…

This issue of a journal on suggestive learning-teaching-therapy counseling within the procedural confines of Suggestology or Suggestopedia includes the following articles: "Suggestopedia in an American High School Setting" (Carl W. Pullen), a description of the use of Suggestopedia in a German class; "Optimizing the Presentation of…

International students have identified problems in the college classroom that hinder their learning, including listening difficulties, lack of understanding of differences in cultural background, poor oral communication skills, insufficient vocabulary, and poor writing skills. The students suggest both general and specific ways in which professors…