This updated third edition of "Curriculum Planning and Instructional Design for Gifted Learners": (1) Is a guide to designing curriculum for the gifted at any level of learning and in any subject area; (2) Addresses the need to differentiate at all levels in the design process; (3) Shows how to customize curriculum for advanced learners;…

The theme for the 62nd annual conference of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers was Educating for a Just Society. Connie Briggs, previous Program Chair, reminded us that, "Education has always been the foundation of a democratic nation. It is important that our students understand the principles upon which our nation was…

With the failure of the No Child Left Behind policies of the 1990's, educational reformers wished to establish a "new and improved" set of standards for the United States to follow. However, since their inception in 2006-2007, the new Common Core State Standards have become increasingly unpopular due to the fact that they remain largely…

A pilot course in mastery learning in a survey course in English literature at the Beirut University College is described. The course was designed to increase the retention of knowledge and skills of students of another culture, utilizing the lecture-discussion method and the mastery learning concepts. (Author/RM)

Discusses techniques that facilitate student learning, conserve instructor time, provide a rationale for course and materials design, and increase inter-rater reliability. Includes suggestions for providing for student differences, determining what to teach and when, and saving time in grading compositions. (PMJ)

The new diversity of foreign language students' motivations and learning paths requires a new, more learner-centered approach to instruction. Alternative ways of organizing the learning experience include modular curricula, individualized instruction, and guided independent study. This implies a more culturally oriented approach to language…

This compilation of articles on the individualization of foreign language learning examines the teacher's role as the "facilitator of learning" in a student centered curriculum, the nature and direction of present trends in individualized instruction determined at the Stanford Conference on Individualization of Instruction in Foreign Language…

The 2008 Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, a joint conference with the Michigan World Language Association, focused on learning about the diverse backgrounds and needs of today's students and discovering new ways to help them succeed in reaching the goal of language proficiency. A wide variety of workshops and…

The interaction of teacher, students, and materials in foreign language study is considered. In the student-centered classroom, the teacher must adapt materials to a particular client or clientele. Student needs and characteristics need to be determined, using diagnostic tools such as aptitude, intelligence and creativity tests, and attitudinal…

In response to the need for dynamic foreign language materials with a communicative focus, this report addresses the relationship between learner characteristics and success in language learning. It suggests that a self-pacing individualized option should be available to students to deal with unique problems. The problems may be dealt with by…

Foreign language study is appealing to a broader clientele today, which results in a great diversity of needs. A more personalized curriculum and instructional activities geared towards accommodating the needs and interests of the individual are needed. The cultural background of the learner is a significant factor in determining his frame of…

Papers in this volume on individualized instruction in foreign languages include: (1) "Individualized Instruction and 'Back to Basics': Are They Compatible?" by Howard B. Altman; (2) "Individualized Instruction in French at Northwestern University" by Margaret Sinclair Breslin; (3) "An Individualized French Program for…