To help teachers understand or evaluate young children's play, six features of play are described. These features, derived from research, are: (1) intrinsic motivation; (2) attention to means rather than ends; (3) nonliteral behavior; (4) freedom from external rules; (5) self rather than object; and (6) active engagement. Related documents from…

This digest highlights the rules or best practices that should be followed by educators in evaluating, selecting, and using technology-delivered assessments. The guidelines adhere to existing professional standards and are presented in checklist form so that educators can determine if the use of technology for their assessment programs are of…

Offers an overview of ERIC resources that can assist in making a microcomputer purchase. (AEA)

An overview of Career Resource Centers (CRCs) is presented. CRCs are described as places where students can go to find career information, find a summer job, or take a vocational interest inventory; where teachers can go to find career education materials or to arrange a field trip; or where guidance counselors can go to hold group sessions,…

This digest is intended to help parents prevent child sexual abuse. The digest provides facts about child sexual abuse and guidelines for dealing with abuse. Sections of the digest address the following questions: (1) What is child sexual abuse? (2) Could my child be sexually abused, and if so, by whom? (3) How would I know if my child is being…

Although student school shootings of students have recently gained significant national attention, more routine forms of student violence (e.g. homicide, rape, aggravated assault, etc.) continue to plague our nation's schools and streets. These less sensational but equally harmful violent behaviors warrant appropriate response. This digest…

This digest brings together the various views on curriculum-related roles for library media specialists. The first section considers reasons why a disparity between theory and practice exists in regard to the involvement of library media specialists as curriculum consultants. Several sources addressing this issue are reviewed in the second…

The involvement of parents in the education of their children is briefly discussed. Discussion focuses on ways to involve parents, ways to reach parents, and difficulties in involving parents. It is asserted that the suggestions offered in this ERIC Digest can help teachers involve parents who might not otherwise be involved. While an individual…

The fall of communism in eastern and central Europe inspired the call for curriculum development in citizenship education throughout the growing democratic world. Many programs between U.S. institutions and newly developing democracies continue to produce curricula for democratic citizenship suited to local needs. This digest discusses: (1)…

This report examines the process behind setting up and implementing a "capital campaign," a program for raising money for new or renovated facilities at private K-12 schools. The report briefly covers tax information regarding gifts to institutions, then offers advice for setting up a comprehensive development program, including…

There are 11 behavioral dimensions which parents and preschool teachers can use in assessing the development of preschool children. These dimensions are: (1) sleeping; (2) eating; (3) toilet habits; (4) range of affect or emotion; (5) variations in play; (6) curiosity; (7) acceptance of authority; (8) initiative; (9) interest; (10) spontaneous…

A definition of bibliotherapy, who should conduct it, when and how it can be used, and some limitations are briefly addressed. Identification, catharsis, and insight are described as the three processes taking place in bibliotherapy. A list of techniques for accurately determining the needs of students, basic procedures in conducting…

Uses ERIC resources to examine the changes necessary to adopt small group instruction, some of the benefits reported by teachers, and guidelines for initiating it. (HOD)

Students of foreign language are being encouraged to learn and use a broad range of language learning strategies that can be tapped throughout the learning process. This approach is based on the belief that learning will be facilitated by making students aware of the range of strategies from which they can choose during language learning and use.…

This document summarizes the practical advice for improving parent/teacher communication through written messages and telephone conversations provided in two documents written by Michael L. Henniger of Central Washington University: (1) "Building Parent/Teacher Relations through Written Communication" (ED 211 216); (2) "The…