A teacher encourages other teachers to look beyond rigid, locked-in, over-organized instructional approaches by pointing out the advantages of creativity, risk-taking, and flexibility in classroom teaching. (CB)

A remedial reading teacher compares her experience in a night-school carpentry course to how she taught her students, reflecting on whether she adequately prepared students for learning, correctly assumed how much students knew, and was appropriately reassuring to students. (CB)

Presents two opinions about whether to keep textbooks in the classroom. One states that textbooks are boring, simplistic, and error filled, and they teach children that reading is dull. The other suggests that textbooks are more powerful, more engaging, and better written than ever, filled with ideas for critical discussion. (SM)

This essay examines some shortcomings of traditional methods of studying and helping children and concludes that teachers need to recognize that the child is able to inform and enlighten the teacher. (JMF)

A Brooklyn (NY) district superintendent rebuts arguments against the Chicago Mastery Learning Reading (CMLR) program that appeared in an article in Learning (November 1982). Based on his district's experience with CMLR, the superintendent points to improved reading scores, teacher enthusiasm, and renewed student interest in reading as indications…

This article presents suggestions for culturally sensitive modifications to help students from all backgrounds learn better. The modifications include building trust, building a repertoire of instructional strategies, using effective questioning techniques, providing effective feedback, analyzing instructional materials, and establishing positive…