Every class has a first day, yet many professors only read the syllabus to students rather than more intentionally leveraging the day to set up understandings that enhance learning and classroom management. Logic, experience, and research indicate that it is not just content expertise that matters to student experience and learning: it is also the…

More and more academically underprepared students enter our colleges and universities, and research suggests that traditional efforts at remediation can exacerbate the self-doubt often experienced by at-risk students. While learning communities have been shown to offer under prepared students the support they need to become active participants in…

Provides an overview of the arguments for and against block scheduling in the social studies. Teachers appreciate the extra time to develop key concepts, incorporate creativity in their instruction, and implement a variety of class activities. Reviews relevant procedures and teaching skills and recommends strategies for improving the…

Asserts that longer class periods must be approached and planned in a completely different manner than shorter periods. A 90-minute period requires a higher degree of teacher preparation and a critical focus on objectives and planning. Includes a summary of questions, predictions, and findings from teachers. (MJP)

Students with special needs are more likely to spend most or all of the school day in a typical classroom than they did in the past, when separate classrooms were the norm. As a result, teachers are faced with the challenge of teaching students with a wide array of learning needs. Marilyn Friend suggests that coteaching, a partnership in which a…

In this paper, educators in a suburban middle school promote the positive educational outcomes from an alternating-day block schedule at their middle school. Comparisons are cited in student achievement and school climate indicators between the block schedule and the eight-period day with shorter classes. The paper cites several advantages of the…

Presents suggestions for creating a classroom environment where young children's thinking and reasoning processes are supported. Discusses organizing time blocks for predictability and flexibility and organizing the physical space, including providing access to work spaces and access to materials. (KB)

Presents ways that daily circle time can help build a community of learners in early childhood settings. Notes the importance of involving children in circle time routines, and building shared rituals, such as greetings and recognition. Discusses the use of circles at midday and the end of the day for reflection and community building. (KB)

The organizational methods and devices presented in this booklet are designed to help the teacher use time in the classroom more effectively. The first section deals with efficient planning for the day and setting priorities. In section two, suggestions are given for reducing the paper load by creating orderly systems for handling written…

This document updates "Accommodations: Assisting Students with Disabilities. A Guide for Educators," published by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) in 2003. This document is written to assist school district personnel and parents when making decisions about the use of accommodations by students with disabilities in instructional…

The paper considers the value and implementation of routines in the educational setting with learners who have severe handicaps. Part I outlines the importance of routines as an intrinsic part of the teaching process, and reviews the potential benefits to the student of routine-based teaching. Benefits include the observations that routines:…

The Lewisburg (Pennsylvania) Area Middle School has successfully implemented an alternating-day block schedule that has yielded improved academic performance. The positive effect may derive from administrative support, teacher empowerment, and community agreement. The culture of the traditional schedule and school year remains essentially intact,…

Increasingly, students enrolled in regular college classes are taking online courses for convenience. Offering students these options raises administrative issues, including how to balance faculty teaching loads and pay for both forms of instruction. Critics say students choosing online courses are not getting the education they pay for, and…

Documents the process of exploring the Reggio Emilia approach in Head Start classrooms in Iowa. Describes areas of exploration, including revising the classroom environments and daily schedules, using more documentation, instituting child-initiated projects, and collaborating on a deeper level with colleagues. Includes excerpts from children's…

Despite increased interest in and acceptance of the concept and mandate of providing adaptive instruction to ensure schooling success for each student, a sizable gap exists between identification of specific educational practices and application of such practices in schools. The work described in this paper is aimed at examining the feasibility…