Written to accompany the second edition of Todd Whitaker's best-selling title, "What Great Teachers Do Differently," this study guide can be used by facilitators and participants in seminars, book study groups, or other professional development events. The variety of activities and strategies in this book will help teachers engage in critical…

Responds to Robert Slavin's criticism of the Hunter model by listing recent research projects validating this teaching strategy. Defends the Hunter model as an effort to change teaching decisions based on tradition and folklore to theory based on judgments and wisdom. (MLH)

Traditional conceptions of problem solving in education are critiqued, and a new framework is proposed to conceptualize open- ended problem solving in ill-structured domains. How innovative curriculum design is informed by this conceptualization is described, and research findings from studies in grades 4 through 12 are presented. (SLD)

This book is a collection of essays on thinking skills instruction and includes the following chapters and their authors: "Encounter with Thinking" (H. Anderson); "Thinking Skills: Neither an Add-on nor a Quick Fix" (A. Costa); "Teaching for Thinking, of Thinking, and about Thinking" (J. McTighe); "Thinking and…

This article explains four teacher-developed mnemonic learning strategies--one for learning the steps of long division, one to teach decision making, one for developing homework skills, and one for preparing and giving a speech. (DB)

This simulation allows students to learn about the struggle of daily life in Plymouth Colony. Students experience the hardships of life in the New World as they make decisions and face consequences as the Pilgrims did nearly 400 years ago. The unit is divided into nine phases with each phase taking approximately one hour of class time. Students…

The instructional theory presented in this document provides an explanation and context for making instructional decisions. The theory's purpose is to facilitate continual inquiry in the real world of teaching; to facilitate the decision making role of teachers and researchers; and to enable teachers and scholars more clearly to describe and…

In response to Derry (EC 233 120), this article illustrates features of effective learning strategy instruction with disabled learners by examining the decisions the teacher confronts, such as determining the purposes of instruction, the context in which instruction occurs, and the roles of the teacher and student. (Author/DB)

This document consists of a package of seven separately published "activities" or simulations that allow students to learn about and participate in many of the aspects of United States history that have influenced our present institutions and way of life. The seven units include: (1) First Americans Arrive: 11.000 BC; (2) Puritan General Court,…

Among the conditions necessary for learning to occur within the educational process are those of intentionality and guidance. A learner must necessarily be allowed choice in entering into educational transactions. Autonomy on the part of the learner in the educational process is not an option, but a necessary condition for the proper functioning…

This paper examines motivation in elementary and secondary schools and discusses its relationship to critical and creative thinking, student decisionmaking, future trends, and mass media. It is suggested that thinking is an important consideration in teaching students and that there is a relationship between student thinking and motivation.…

This book offers an approach to curriculum decision making aimed at helping Catholic schools become or remain values-based, learning-centered communities for the 21st century. The outcomes-based approach argues that educators have three primary responsibilities--identify what is the significant learning, design valid ways for students to…

This book helps practicing and prospective teachers to: (1) identify the decision patterns that define teaching styles and are common to the teacher-learner situation; (2) identify the specific decisions in each pattern; and (3) define the relationships among the various patterns and understand how to use them in classroom situations. The…

This simulation allows students to learn about and participate in many of the aspects of ancient Greek life that have influenced present institutions and way of life. The phases of the unit include: (1) academy; (2) assembly; (3) Acropolis; (4) Theater; (5) Olympics; (6) Symposium; (7) Festival; and (8) Panhellenic Quiz Bowl. Each stage of play…

This simulation allows students to learn about the lands and customs of the people living in the countries found along the western rim of the Pacific Ocean. The class is divided into eight teams. The phases of the unit include: (1) research; (2) activities; (3) race; and (4) summing up and festival. Each stage of play involves completion of tasks…