When students are first introduced to the idea of radioactive decay, a large conceptual hurdle must be overcome. The thought that an object's age has no bearing on the chance it will "die" (decay in this case) on a particular day is completely at odds with biological notions of life and death. Through the use of a simple…

One author shares the unique opportunity to be immersed in the science of "sound at work" through participation in NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Teacher at Sea Program. A third- through fifth-grade learning outcome within the Nature of Science section of the "Next Generation Science Standards"…

Teaching a course in content area reading instruction means that a professor will have students with a broad range of experiences and interests, all of which must be taken into account in the instructional process by providing many opportunities for choice and self-selection. The modeling of effective teaching is a strategy that can encourage…

Describes a group pioneering the process of "professional" publication of students' writing called Chapbooks.com. Discusses the author's experience with Chapbooks.com and three other "testimonies" from different schools. Concludes with an appendix of frequently asked questions about the website. (SC)

This book offers a second-generation model of guided reading--one that presents alternative practices and urges teachers to expand their vision. The goal of the book is to make guided reading a more effective and efficient instructional technique. The book originates from the idea that there are at least five considerations that need to be thought…

Provides a theoretical framework for designing a children's literature course that requires preservice teachers to critically analyze literature in ways that are personally meaningful. Suggests how preservice teachers can read children's literature intensively rather than extensively. (PA)

Describes the GENRP Model of Instruction in which students generate (G) relevant ideas from prior knowledge, elaborate (E) with information, and use nonredundant processing (NRP) techniques to organize concepts. Claims the method actively involves students, teaches basic literacy, and develops reading and social studies comprehension and…

Examines how children's written work is enhanced through "teachable" lessons, where the teacher draws attention explicitly to aspects of literary texts and where children explore and evaluate literature through group reading and discussion. Explores the relationship between group evaluations of texts and children's writing development with…

Offers researchers' perspectives for online publication. Shows how to establish criteria for validating these sites as valuable resources in student-centered teaching and learning. Gives reasons why middle school writers should publish on the web. Presents a chart of 18 websites with a description and a list of key factors regarding the websites.…

This eighth yearbook of innovative learning strategies presents the following articles, grouped in three major sections. The first section, Program Models, contains: (1) "Welcome Back: Meeting the Needs of Nontraditional Students" (Kathy Carpenter); (2) "A Model Coordinated Curriculum for the First-Term Community College Learning Disabled Student"…

Suggests that modeling the writing process be carried one step further by the classroom writing teacher to the publishing component, and recounts some of the benefits to be gained by doing so. (NKA)

Encourages use of the newspaper for adults to improve their reading skills and to practice applying academic skills to problem solving. (NKA)

Describes a case study approach to teaching database design principles to undergraduate students that is based on a library database. Topics discussed include database management systems, relational models, entity relationship models, many-to-many relationships, normalization, and producing a working database. (three references) (LRW)

Calling for a radical reexamination of the traditional foundation of composition instruction--the thesis/support form, this book argues that the essay, with its informality, conversational tone, meditative mood, and integration of form and content, is better suited to developmental, epistemological, ideological, and feminist rhetorical…

Describes a German language class in which a videodisk player is used to enhance oral proficiency. The basis for this model of instruction and the structuralist theory of learning developed by Jerome Bruner are discussed. The teaching steps of the model as applied to foreign language instruction are presented. (Author/LMO)