Introducing a new framework for teaching and learning literature in secondary schools, this book presents Dialogic Literary Argumentation as an inquiry-based approach to engage students in communicating and exploring ideas about literature. As a process of discovery, Dialogic Literary Argumentation facilitates…

A common goal for mathematics teachers at any grade level is for "all" students--not just future mathematics teachers--to develop deep understanding of the mathematics they are learning and using. To that end, this lesson can be used in an upper-level high school mathematics course to introduce the concept of a radian in a way that…

Keeping a log of scientific investigations, discoveries, and notes is a process that scientists have used throughout history. Elementary-age children engage in similar types of documentation when they perform investigations and sketch, label, or provide details about their work and findings. This column includes activities inspired by children's…

How do we ensure that all students are engaged each day in meaningful, challenging, and joyful work and have equal opportunity to learn? That is the central question Regie Routman addresses in "Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity for All Learners." Her response is that such an outcome is only possible within a culture…

Describes an approach for teaching art appreciation in elementary art classes in which the teacher does not tell students what they should see in a picture but asks them what they could see. As an example, how second graders discussed and told stories about the picture "American Gothic" is described. (AM)

Describes a 'Moore Method' course whose purpose is to teach students to create and present in class mathematically correct proofs of theorems. Discusses grading, class discussions, ways to help students, and the extent to which to encourage cooperative learning. (Author/ASK)

Oceantides are not typically high in our consciousness here in Missouri, but in teaching astronomy and physical science the subject always comes up, and teachers of physical science and astronomy are all quite familiar with the textbook explanations. Our goal here is not to explain tides but to make some suggestions about how, on their own,…

Outlines a course designed to teach students how to write descriptive and informative abstracts. (HOD)

Intended for secondary teachers in rural areas, the paper examines ways to implement a learning center approach to meet a range of students' needs, including mainstreamed special needs, students, regular students, and gifted and talented students. The first section considers B. Bloom's Taxonomy as a basis for developing learning centers.…

The progression from simple interest to compound interest leads naturally and quickly to the number e, involving mathematical discovery learning through writing programs. Several programs are given, with suggestions for a teaching sequence. (MNS)

A plea is made that mathematics should be taught the way that mathematicians do it, using an exploratory approach rather than rule learning. (MNS)

The use of invertebrates as classroom "pets" can develop students' skills in scientific inquiry and instill respect for science. Few materials are needed for projects involving invertebrates. Suggested activities using snails, crickets, earthworms, crayfish, and guppies are offered. (DF)

By working through a series of problems, undergraduate psychology students in an introductory statistics course discover for themselves the main topic of the lesson. A lecture follows to conceptualize and clarify the topic. (RM)

Presents an approach that combines the discovery method with graphing skills and allows students to uncover scientific laws on their own. Attempts to make the discovery method more quantitative while still teaching students how to think scientifically. (JRH)

Describes a lesson on different world ecosystems in which activities are based on the constructivist approach to teaching that encourages learners to control their own learning. Includes a sample grading rubric and national science education standards related to these activities. (KHR)