Some high achievers are not as easy to engage. Sometimes motivating high achievers is "a matter of being more sensitive to what they are interested in," says Don Ambrose, a professor of education at Rider University in New Jersey. But too often classrooms are not set up for that kind of sensitivity. Research shows that schools are…

The establishment of the "three-dimension-in-one" objectives in the new curriculums has changed the "knowledge-centered" objective model in the traditional teaching syllabuses. This change will cause the transformation of knowledge learning ideology, i.e. from stressing the explicit knowledge acquisition to concerning the value of tacit knowledge.…

Online assessments afford many advantages for teachers and students. Okolo (2006) stated, "As the power, sophistication, and availability of technology have increased in the classroom, online assessments have become a viable tool for providing the type of frequent and dynamic assessment information that educators need to guide instructional…

Examines the shortcomings of prepackaged teaching programs for reading and writing instruction that are designed by those removed from the learning environment. (HTH)

Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences theory has exciting implications for planning new curricula, especially for children with dyslexia. These children have been "educated" in a system that has failed them. Gardner's theory allows an open-ended approach to assessing dyslexic children's intelligence. Understanding the eight…

Presents a plan for compacting and streamlining the regular curriculum in order to relieve gifted students of the boredom that often results from unchallenging work and to provide the time gifted students need to pursue acceleration and enrichment activities after prerequisite competencies have been mastered. (Author/RH)

Explored the meaning of curricular differentiation for 11 gifted elementary school students by examining responses to open-ended activities. Participants' responses differed from typical students. Differentiation occurred by participants responding in more depth, with higher level skills, and in ways that were guided by their learning styles. (CR)

A new definition of teaching must replace traditional modes of instruction. Intellectual growth is best encouraged by assisting, rather than assessing, student performance. Classrooms must be settings which maximize opportunities for participation and conversation. Definitions and practical applications are given for Vygotsky's term "zone of…

Describes experimental K-9 bilingual-bicultural curriculum in Navajo studies emphasizing open-ended questioning, inductive/analytical reasoning, and student verbalization in both small and large groups, and discusses reasons why it has been well received by teachers and students. Findings challenge conventional view that these students are…

Considering a behaviorist's viewpoint focusing on specifics regarding learning and knowledge, this document discusses the psychology of learning and how it provides the reading/language arts teacher with a basis for making sound decisions in lesson and unit construction. It provides two examples of objectives for pupil achievement pertaining to…

Reviews a curriculum resource unit entitled "Life Expressions: West African Art in the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum," produced by the museum and adaptable to any grade level. The unit depicts art in its cultural context and allows students to take in information in their preferred learning style. (MDM)

This book presents Integrated Thematic Instruction (ITI), a model for implementing a "brain-compatible" learning environment for students and teachers using a year-long theme to organize curriculum content and skills. The book's introduction identifies six "mismemes" (or mistaken ideas) that have hindered educational reform,…

Asserts that the scattered rural populations of Latin America and Mexico make it difficult to offer primary education to all school-age children. Describes a project in which community classes make it possible for children to attend schools without leaving their village. (CFR)

An interview with Seymour Papert, an advocate of computer instruction for children and colleague of Jean Piaget, focused on questions concerning: (1) schools' use of computers; (2) teacher preparation for computer technology in the classroom; (3) importance of students and teachers learning to program; and (4) methods of computer assistance in…

Integrating the arts from the preschool level through graduate school enables students to develop their creativity and their ability to reason, draw abstractions, analyze, give personal meaning to what they are learning, and to express themselves in very powerful and fulfilling ways. Students must be taught with a variety of approaches to…