There are a plethora of innovations in the school curriculum. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) the C3 Framework of the National Council Social Studies, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), among others, indicates movement in curriculum modification and change. Classroom teachers…

A central and repeated idea in education is the continuous need for change. This paper explores how to assess the ways change can be incorporated into the curriculum, and why stability is also important. The example of team teaching shows the way a concept may become accepted as a "fact" in spite of many weaknesses of the approach.…

This paper explores the concept of the community school. A community school emphasizes wholehearted involvement by all living in the designated community area. The Porter Rural School, Missouri, established by Marie Turner Harvey with the help of Evelyn Dewey and her father John Dewey, was an outstanding example of the community school concept…

Mathematics teachers need to study diverse psychologies of learning so that individual learners may be guided to attain as optimally as possible. This paper discusses meaning theory in mathematics teaching and describes a variety of learning theories such as behaviorism, developmental psychology, and problem solving. (ASK)

Each teacher of social studies teacher needs to possess a philosophy of teaching and learning. Philosophy provides guidance and direction in choosing objectives, learning activities, and assessment procedures. Each philosophy to be discussed will possess differences in meaning and implementation. It is salient to understand relevant philosophical…

Listening is a skill that permeates all curriculum areas at both elementary and secondary levels. Definite philosophies are in evidence pertaining to listening. The testing and measurement movement has stressed using precise, behaviorally stated objectives in teaching-learning situations. Learning opportunities are selected which harmonize with…

Journal writing gives students opportunities to practice writing in a way relevant to their experiences and not merely as an exercise in writing for writing's sake. There are many opportunities for a student to write about subject matter learned from ongoing lessons, as examples from the journal of a sixth grader illustrate. Listening to current…

It is important for teachers to be accountable for what they do professionally, but it is difficult to determine how teachers can show their performance. The question of merit pay for teachers shows the difficulties of demonstrating what the teacher really has accomplished. To appraise teacher accountability using state mandated objectives,…

Which spelling words should students master in order to communicate well in writing? There are numerous sources from which teachers may choose spelling words to use and teach. This paper discusses five such sources: the basal spelling textbook; words based on research studies; individualized spelling; words taken from subject matter units of…

Although it is a skill that is often ignored, handwriting is an important aspect of education, especially at the elementary school level. Word processors are not always available, and there is frequently a need to write something that others must read. Students should receive instruction in specific handwriting problems, and it is best if learners…

The balance between conformity to state standards and creativity in providing for individual differences in the classroom is discussed. With the current emphases on accountability and standards, learning opportunities for students are supposed to be aligned with state-mandated objectives. This may lead to a situation in which rote learning,…

A good mathematics instructor is a proficient organizer of pupils for instruction in mathematics. There are many specifics involved in organizing for instruction. This paper discusses organizational structures in mathematics instruction such as learning stations. "A Geometry Center" is provided as an example of a learning station. The organization…

This paper presents a fictitious debate among a group of science educators regarding the characteristics of an effective science curriculum. The debate explores the controversy between those science educators who have supported a basics approach to science teaching and the problem-solving approach advocated by educators behind reform efforts such…

There are selected philosophies in the teaching of mathematics that can provide guidance to the teacher in developing the curriculum. This paper discusses four philosophies of teaching mathematics. (1) Idealism stresses that the pupil lives in an idea-centered mathematical world, but not an objective real world. Abstract content is prized more…

Generally, reading is perceived as consisting of identifying words and increasing comprehension skills, but there are a plethora of additional symbols which students need to read and comprehend meaningfully. This paper first discusses reading across the curriculum, emphasizing abstract words, and then considers symbols peculiar to diverse academic…