This study describes problem solving instruction by nine seventh grade mathematics teachers and compares it to basic skills instruction. Comparison of the activity structures and teacher and observer ratings reveals few major differences between types of instruction. Between-teacher differences in activity structures were greater than differences…

Describes a project that involved an eighth-grade advanced English class in learning about banned books and censorship with the hope that students would learn enough about a highly controversial subject to be able to form intelligent options. (EL)

Outlines innovations associated with development of a learning environment designed around problem-solving/situation-improving strategies for farming and other agricultural systems at Australia's Hawkesbury Agricultural College. The situation at the school is described; observations and reflections are noted; and conceptualizations and actions for…

Today's schools are responding to the pressing need for positive student-teacher relationships that promote successful learning and prevent dropouts and violence. To meet this challenge, many secondary schools are reorganizing around smaller schools or "houses" and structuring longer blocks of learning time. Authors Elliot Y. Merenbloom and…

Based on sound developmentally appropriate theory, this revised guide is designed to help early childhood teachers deal with common problems that arise in all aspects of their work. Following an introduction and a list of the 20 most important principles for successful preschool teaching, the guide is divided into nine parts. Part 1 addresses…

This study examined the effects of level of instructional scaffolding on students' use of Geometer's Sketchpad and other software tools in a technology-integrated geometry curriculum. In order to revitalize education at the secondary level and in particular in the mathematics curriculum, educational reformers have advocated the incorporation of…

Teachers and students can view the world of animals together through an exploration of how-and-why questions about animals in this curriculum unit. The problem-solving and critical thinking skills of students are improved through interactive activities involving oral and written communication, mathematics, creative arts, music, dance, and creative…

The major purpose of this book is to rejuvenate the focus on thinking throughout the curriculum. This collection of 85 essays is intended to help educational leaders--teachers, administrators, curriculum workers, staff developers, and teacher educators--infuse curriculum, instruction, and school organization with practices that more fully develop…

Procedures for using a decision algorithm for determining whether an infant or toddler is eligible for Part C early intervention is the focus of this eligibility determination practice guideline. An algorithm is a step-by-step problem-solving procedure or decision-making process that results in a solution or accurate decision in a finite number of…

This proceedings from the annual conference of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education includes the following topics and authors: area measurement (C. B. Beattys, C. A. Maher); error patterns (H. C. Bebout); formative evaluation (J. C. Bergeron, N. Herscovics, N. Nantais); interactive…

This booklet is designed to be used with a video of the classroom of second-grade teacher Victoria Bill. The 40-minute video shows the teacher using a variety of manipulations, facilitating both large- and small-group discussions, and applying a problem-solving approach to math. The text in the booklet is based on spoken comments made by observers…

Since its introduction in 1983, Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences has attracted widespread interest among educators. The chapters in this book describe alternative assessments that capture the range of intelligences, allow the intelligences to be given more equal weight, use intelligence-fair formats, and focus on student…

This action research project evaluated the impact of a program for enhancing interpersonal problem-solving skills on academic achievement in elementary students in an industrial, urban Illinois community. The lack of social skills and inability to think critically were documented through office referrals and teacher observations of kindergarten,…

The purpose of this comic-activity book is to teach children how to be safe and how to deal with peer pressure. The book centers on the characters McGruff the Crime Dog, his nephew Scruff, and American Indian children living on a reservation. Scruff, who is a child figure, encounters situations that children may experience or worry about,…

This report was drawn from the 1996 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and describes the science performance of eighth grade students in North Carolina. It compares results for various groups of students within that population and examines the results for individual demographic groups as well as individual background questions. The…