Teach well. Be happy. In this book, Heather Wolpert-Gawron, author of the popular education blog "Tweenteacher" shares ideas for teaching an age group that too often presents a challenge for educators. With sparkling humor and a unique, fundamental understanding of the middle children of education, the award-winning teacher offers tried-and-true…

Get teens excited about reading by using the readers own love of books along with a good dose of market savvy. This simple, upbeat guide is packed with practical guidelines and a wealth of exciting ideas for promoting books and reading through everything the reader does--from collection building, designing the space, and creating a Web site, to…

Outlines a graduate level minicourse entitled "Micrographics in Libraries" offered at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, noting course objectives and learning activities. A bibliographic review of instructional resources and an outline of units and learning activities within the 15-hour course are included. Thirty-two references are…

Using microcomputers in libraries, media centers, and learning resource centers is viewed to be not as difficult as previously thought, due to all the possible levels of involvement. Urges libraries to purchase microcomputers now to get an early start. (MP)

Discusses key points for children's librarians to consider in selecting books, preparing questions, and facilitating communication for book discussions. Highlights include choosing discussable books; ambiguous endings; factual, interpretive, and evaluative questions; helping readers talk; and benefits. Sidebars include a book discussion sampler,…

Focuses on the theme of safe and comforting places for children, and how libraries can help provide safe havens for children. Presents a survey of safe places in selected works of children's literature. Includes a sampler of creative activities focusing on the theme, and a list of resources (books and videotapes). (AEF)

Claims that library research is more profitable for students if teachers do not focus on the activity as relevant only for the writing of the research paper, but rather treat research as part of the recursive generative process of writing. Suggests principles to incorporate the activity of research into a number of writing assignments throughout…

Discusses six initiatives to find better ways of managing vast amounts of data in digital form. (MKR)

Suggests library-based activities that focus on the relationship between art and literature. Suggests van Eyck's painting, "The Arnolfini Marriage," to elicit from students the history, conditions, themes, and symbols portrayed. Lists a Web-site for more resources and suggested related literature available at several student levels. (ET)

Describes two library-lab exercises the authors have incorporated into their college chemistry course. The first exercise introduces students to scientific information and familiarizes them with the tools for accessing it. The second provides a framework for evaluating the reliability of that information and addresses the criteria that should be…

This guide is designed for those teaching return-to-study courses for adults. It is divided into two parts. A course guide begins by explaining why past approaches for equipping students for academic success are unhelpful. The approach used in this guide is described by drawing on cognitive psychology, especially about short- and long-term memory,…

Students must reconsider the nature of composing and their identities as writers when working on a jointly authored piece of writing, such as a two-page report on a particular area in a university library. Looking at the ways workshop groups interact to produce a piece of collaborative writing and a joint oral presentation offers insight into the…

This instructional unit combines a study of the Soviet leader V. I. Lenin with a study of libraries. Lenin was selected as the focus because of his support of books and libraries and because he oversaw a revolution that altered the political and social structure of Russia and the balance of power throughout the world. Included are lesson plan…

Currently, there is much controversy and confusion over "best practice" issues in teaching reading. This book, written by a "lifelong teacher/learner," is based on the premise that good teaching does not have to mean lots of hours spent planning but instead requires lots of thinking--thinking about what matters to children, what children need to…

Suggestions are given for activities to celebrate Foreign Language Week, including public awareness exhibits, teacher involvement, food-related activities, sports, festivals and fairs, round tables and discussions, library involvement, planning and organizing techniques, and publicity efforts. (MSE)