While reading, writing, and arithmetic remain important, they are no longer enough. For learners to thrive, they must move beyond traditional literacies to modern fluencies--the unconscious mental processes that are learned, adapted, and applied in the context of real-world problems and challenges. In this book, the authors unpack the fluencies…

Learning communication is one of the major developmental tasks in early childhood. Few tasks in early childhood are as important for children as being able to communicate with the people in their world to have their needs met. This also includes gaining skills to understand and express thoughts, feelings and information. Understanding…

Effective use of informational texts in early elementary grade classrooms can extend and expand children's knowledge of the world and provide critical skills necessary for success in the information age. This article suggests several research-based instructional activities that will enhance children's ability to use and comprehend informational…

Leonard Stout Kenworthy was born to Quaker parents in Richmond, Indiana, in 1912. His father, Murray Kenworthy, was a faculty member in the religious studies department at Earlham College in Richmond. After spending time in New York, Ohio, and Washington, DC, Kenworthy enrolled in a Quaker boarding school not far from Philadelphia. After…

It is important to appreciate differences in perspectives in order to gain an understanding of others. Teachers can foster the disposition of perspective-taking among students by engaging them in learning opportunities that allow them to discover and reflect on the similarities as well as the differences among people of the world. Such activities…

Presents an activity in which students in grades three to six can create looms and learn about weaving. Discusses the process for weaving. Includes ideas for furthering the students' knowledge of weaving, a list of vocabulary and materials, and directions for creating the loom. (CMK)

Focuses on the importance of posture in music-making. Provides information on the importance of posture and the different types of posture stances to help students work toward better posture. Includes information on using kinesthetic experiences to help students improve their posture. (CMK)

Illustrates how graphing calculators can be used to address the knowledge and skills promoted by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and other educational organizations. Focuses on plotting capability and facilitating various types of data and information analysis. (CMK)

Using the seasons in the science classroom increases student observation skills as they focus on subtle differences such as shades of color and differences in structures. In this article, the author presents a variety of activities that can help students identify and demonstrate patterns and changes in leaf or plant development. The ability to…

Contributions of motor skill and cognition to sport performance change across age, expertise, and sports. Knowledge and decision making should not limit the development of expertise. Specific strategies for teachers may help students develop expertise. The paper discusses the contribution of knowledge and skill to expertise and its development.…

A discussion of effective training for health professionals proposes that selection of strategy be guided by knowledge needed by the graduating student; skills to be mastered; teaching methods effective for achieving these two objectives; and whether the desired knowledge, skills, and attitudes are reflected in assessment methods and outcomes…

Many teachers with a whole language philosophical orientation question how to cover mandated district objectives using whole language instruction. One problem is that curriculum objectives are usually presented in discrete, isolated fragments. Second, teachers are also expected to document what skills they have covered. Third, specific guidelines…

This guide defines the basic competencies in reasoning and describes how to incorporate them into the educational program at all grade levels. Reasoning is the ability to approach day-to-day problems with intelligent decision-making skills. It is important for students to begin developing reasoning skills at an early age and in all subject areas.…

The traditional lecture format of college courses can be enhanced by including active learning designed to further course goals of learning knowledge, developing skills, or fostering attitudes. Techniques suggested include using pauses, short writing periods, think-pair-share activities, formative quizzes, lecture summaries, and several assessment…

North Carolina has maintained a "Standard Course of Study" since the 1890s; every five to seven years since that time, it has been revised to reflect the needs of North Carolina students. The Standard Course of Study includes curriculum that should be made available to every child in the state's public schools. The "K-12…