With the advent of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, virtually every school in America is expected to meet high academic standards in the face of declining resources. The requirements to meet these standards are rising as funding decreases, and little help is available to schools. "Strength-Based Teaching" is intended to fill that…

Discussion of the nature/nurture controversy in giftedness concludes that giftedness has a strong hereditary basis that is greatly influenced by educational experiences. The importance of the affective domain is also stressed. Some specific suggestions are offered to help students nurture themselves and to help parents and teachers nurture others.…

Metaphor is an essential process and product of thought. Works of art, being developed products of thought, can be metaphors for felt dimensions of experience in its broadest sense. The metaphoric process can be used to interpret art works and art periods. (RM)

Traditional literary criticism, reader-response research, and the techniques of systemic therapy are brought together to provide guidelines for teachers and counselors concerned with using stories to further the emotional development of children. A theory of reader-story interaction is proposed, and a case is made for individually composed…

Argues that teachers seeking to identify what constitutes a crisis for children must consider the child's response to and feelings about the experience, not just the event itself. Reviews common physical, psychological, and social symptoms of crisis. Discusses ways to help children in crisis while maintaining appropriate boundaries. (PAA)

The attitudes and beliefs that students hold about the subject of mathematics and about themselves as learners of mathematics contribute as much to the school's mathematical environment as do the concrete and cognitive aspects of mathematics. This paper considers the effects of mathematical affect and the use of intervention programs to increase…

As society becomes more individualized in production techniques and the college-aged population becomes more diverse, education must adjust to help the individual cope with a world full of rapid change. Recent research has opened new doors to understanding how individuals learn, and this understanding should be used to develop programs and…

Emotional issues impacting the lives of gifted students are discussed, including peer pressure, competition, perfectionism, independence, expectations of self or others, and economic disadvantage. Teaching suggestions and poems by gifted students are provided. (DB)

Explores the linkages between Thomas Hardy's poem "The Darkling Thrush" and the thrush scene in George Orwell's novel "1984." Suggests a variety of enrichment projects for students that deal with aspects of these two works. (RBW)

Argues music educators must holistically address the subjective side of music listening as well as objective properties. States individual perceptions are neglected and students must experience the balance between subjective and objective realities to fully educate the senses. Advocates critical thinking and moving beyond a technical vocabulary to…