Discusses how to teach the expressive aspects of music more effectively. For example, teachers can use verbal imagery to communicate how music is expressive of the human condition. Students should be encouraged to experiment with the possibilities of musical expression and allowed to choose their own mode of expression. (AM)

Guidelines for structuring dramatic activities to foster personal and social growth of students are presented. Eight techniques, including role reversals and situation tests, are described, as well as the need for warm-up and wrap-up periods. (CL)

Frequency is the key to achieving flow in good writing. Generating written responses to a variety of tasks on a daily basis instills confidence and competence. Suggested writing techniques include daily journals reflecting individual thinking, paragraph completions based on topic sentences, object descriptions, creation of dialogs, and…

Suggests ways in which improvisational drama can be used to foster student involvement, self-awareness, and communication. (KS)

Writing can be a fun and rewarding form of self-expression for gifted students. Some specific writing activities which can provide enrichment include recording, in detail, visual observations; making observations about a specific topic (such as television shows or some other subject the students have experience with); and recording personal…

Argues that children can dance before they can talk and discusses how teachers can encourage this innate talent. (MP)

A former gifted pupil shares ideas based on her own experiences in dealing with motivation, coping with failure, making learning tasks meaningful, providing opportunities for self-expression, fostering expression in the arts, developing social skills, using grouping strategies, and finding a mentor. (CL)

Describes how having students draw both their own and a literary character's reality not only introduces students, quite painlessly and concretely, to a large number of literary terms, but also suggests that literature appreciation demands an imaginative extension into the life of another. (MM)

Journal writing is recommended to help gifted students understand themselves and be understood by others. Three techniques are described: journal jumpers, which are ideas useful in promoting self-disclosure and self-analysis in journal writing; film reaction writing; and analysis of emotional growth found in the journals of other writers. (JDD)

Describes a videotape exchange between students in a New York City school and a classroom of students in Charleston, South Carolina, explaining what the students learned about themselves and others from the personally-made tapes. (RB)

The personal student journal is a little-used technique that holds special promise for instructors working in diverse educational settings. Journals can be used as an instructional tool for students, as a means for nurturing self-directed learning, and as a bridge to personal growth. (PP)

Dance for preschool children can be a vehicle for self-expression and for learning, but teachers must present material in the form of play. Ideas for teaching dance to three- to five-year-old children, such as the proper way to jump and skip, are presented, along with a sample lesson. (PP)

Information about dance history, different types of dances, and dancing in other countries is presented. Ideas are offered for helping children experience all aspects of dance, from scoring to performing. In addition, Alexander Godunov of the American Ballet Theater answers questions of fifth and sixth graders. (PP)

A number of exercises for promoting communication and self-expression in the classroom are described. (RM)