Communities across the country are grappling with different approaches to improving their schools. Introducing or expanding charter schools is one of the approaches that states and school districts have considered or implemented. Charter schools serve more than 5 percent of public school students nationwide and make up close to 7 percent of all…

Teaching is essentially interpersonal interaction. Nonetheless, there are some techniques which many teachers have found helpful. There are three basic teaching techniques: the expository approach; the discovery approach; and the experimental approach. These can be subdivided into many specific teaching methods. Eighteen of the better, more…

Approaching poetry from the nigh impossible task of defining it leads to a fruitful discovery of some of the most important aspects of it. (DD)

Offers examples of innovative approaches to teaching the new microcomputer vocabulary. (Available from: Modern Learning Publishers, Inc., 6517 Liggett, Oakland, CA 94611, $14.) (AEA)

The best learning results from experiential learning, the interplay between theory and experience. In experiential learning, the student is in direct touch with the realities being studied. It involves not merely undergoing the experience, but also doing something with the phenomenon. Theories of experiential learning include: (1) learning how to…

In this interview, teaching models are rejected for their formulaic, inflexible approach to inculcating cognitive skills. Instead, teachers need to understand the logic of their subject matter and should master a set of pedagogical skills to use as necessary. Includes one reference. (MLH)

Presents ten activity cards which can be used in developing students' defining skills. (DD)

Provides a systematic conceptualization of population education using Hilda Taba's listing-grouping-labelling sequence. Also considers the use of inquiry (inductive, problem solving, and discovery) in learning population education concepts, attributes of population education, and what population education is and is not. (JN)

The author defines psychic ability and suggests ways that teachers can recognize it. (KC)

"How can the children learn," parents ask, "when they are having so much fun? How can they learn when all they do is play?" Examines the work of educational theorists in answering such questions. (Author/RK)

The gifted underachiever is considered in terms of definition, placement options, myths of giftedness, and instructional approaches. The article describes the usefulness of such techniques as exploratory process activities, use of interest areas, and rule application and stresses the importance of modifying the regular curriculum. (Author/DB)

The difference between mathematical "investigations" and "investigating," used in two different British reports, is discussed. Investigations means an extensive project or extended exploration into a mathematical problem or topic. Investigating is promoted as an ongoing teaching method. (MNS)

Presented is a journalism primer, with activities designed to get elementary school students involved in all journalistic processes--observing, interviewing, recording, planning, and writing the final product. Journalism terms are defined. (KC)

The modal "should" can be taught by first delineating its meaning of "good advice," then proceeding to its meaning as expressing the speaker's sense of duty, propriety, and expediency, and finally dealing with its meaning of "reasonable expectation." The elements of "must" implicit in "should"…

This fact sheet providing general information about learning disabilities is presented in both English and Spanish versions. It begins with the federal definition of learning disabilities and a discussion of its implications followed by estimates of incidence. Typical characteristics of students with learning disabilities are then summarized as…