Based on the premise that reading and writing are social acts in which teachers and children together share the books and authors they enjoy and their own composing in the various genres, this book (one of a series) focuses on using nonfiction to develop a literate classroom. The book highlights a series of "action experiments" designed for…

Based on the idea that children can learn to write letters to friends and relatives as soon as they learn to write words, this visually oriented pamphlet presents practical classroom activities that primary grade teachers can use to encourage their young students to practice letter writing skills. The pamphlet contains instructions for making a…

The fundamentals of algebra and algebraic thinking should be a part of the background of all citizens in society. The vast increase in the use of technology requires that school mathematics ensure the teaching of algebraic thinking as well as its use at both the elementary and secondary school levels. Algebra is a universal theme that runs through…

A teacher of gifted children implemented a 10-week practicum intervention designed to improve regular classroom teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and skills concerning the education of gifted elementary school students. The intervention was designed to enable participants to identify characteristics and needs of gifted children, develop positive…

This curriculum guide to world history studies and honors world history studies in Fort Worth (Texas) schools contains the following materials: a statement of philosophy and broad goals for each content area; objectives organized around broad content goals or strands that define specific expectations for students, prekindergarten through grade 12;…

From the 1950s through the 1970s, children's play with blocks was seen as facilitating many developmental and educational outcomes, including art and creativity. In the 1980s there is less interest in the use of blocks to help children acquire art concepts and sensitivities as the pressure for back to the basics increases. This paper aims to…

Four reasons why a media course is valuable to students are: (1) mass communication is an important part of their present and their future; (2) students need to know to what degree the media affect and reflect their sense of morality, political decisions, buying habits, and general way of life; (3) students need to know what opportunities and…

A description is provided of a project that was conducted to design, implement, and evaluate traditional and guided-practice instructional modules for independent learning of word processing skills. After an overview of the project, the report outlines the following steps in module development: identifying an instructional goal, conducting an…

This syllabus for grade 7 was designed to improve the problem-solving abilities of students while continuing a natural development of mathematical skills and concepts. Seven major strands are provided under the following unit titles: (1) "An Introduction to Problem Solving"; (2) "Number Concepts"; (3) "Ratio, Proportion,…

Realizing that there is virtually no acknowledgement of the theater arts as part of the educational program in the public schools of Iowa, this guide is intended to be a model for instruction in theater beginning in the earliest grades and continuing beyond the school years. It is organized so that it is the theater teacher/director who makes the…

This instructional manual contains 11 learning activity packets for use in a workshop on photovoltaic converters. The lessons cover the following topics: introduction; solar radiation--input for photovoltaic converters; photovoltaic cells; solar electric generator systems; characteristics of silicon cells; photovoltaic module source resistance;…

Before working with middle school gifted students, the teacher should be aware of the characteristics and learning style preferences of these students. For example, the years from 9 to 13 are a time of physical, social, emotional, and cognitive change--also called an "age of ambivalence." Many of these students tackle decision making sooner and…

This paper contains a concise summary of the theory and practice of competency-based education, especially as it applies to adult education. The paper first defines competency-based education (CBE) and details the assumptions on which CBE is based. It then lists the critical components for effective CBE and cites the advantages of using a…

There is a risk that some students will progressively slip further behind the pace of instruction across grade levels, particularly in the second through fourth grades. A combination of factors are related to instructional risk: (1) structure of skill development across more than one grade level; (2) organization of textbook lessons that provide…

This guide was developed to provide assistance to North Dakota schools in improving their elementary mathematics programs. Use of calculators and problem-solving instruction is firmly suggested, and computers should also be integrated in the mathematics program. Following statements of philosophy and goals, the scope and sequence of skills for…