My purpose in this paper is to present a didactic tool--a set of specially designed problems and questions for discussion--that can help making students better aware of the various aspects of the formal notion of limit of a sequence. The didactic tool will be justified using results from my own and other authors' research on students' naive or…

It is suggested that the methodology for developing communicative competence in a second language is not always in keeping with the principles behind it. Two directions are suggested: use of grammatical sequencing for those students it suits best, and gradual introduction of complexity into the communicative situation. (MSE)

Burn (2005) proposes a "genetic approach" to teaching limits of numerical sequences. The article includes an explanation of the Method of Exhaustion, a generalization of this method, and a description of how this method was used for obtaining areas and lengths in the seventeenth century. The author uses these historical and mathematical analyses…

Research suggests that basic writers are willing to edit but reluctant to revise their writing. In other words, they make surface-level changes to grammar, spelling, and punctuation but tend not to re-conceive content, structure, style, and cohesion. This paper argues that we need more instructional strategies that will help students understand…

Makes a case for a sequential approach to teaching foreign languages middle schools and suggests that in the middle school must encompass both the goals of proficiency and exploration; the integrated exploratory model is more compatible with child development; exploratory can be a launching pad into sequential courses; after an exploratory…

Argues that writing assignments should (1) specify audience, purpose, and topic, (2) define rhetorical problems, (3) incorporate stages of the composing process, (4) provide timely feedback to avoid cognitive overload, and (5) follow some developmental sequence. Describes several assignments based on letter writing. (JG)

Grammatical sequencing is suggested as a valuable teaching technique from the points of view of both communicative competence and linguistic competence. Sequencing techniques and ideas are offered. (MSE)

Examines the debate between two approaches to teaching writing: imitation of classic models versus technical writing for the real world. Argues that, in either approach, a developmental sequence of assignments is paramount. Describes compromise course plan based on careers, in which students write research papers about vocations in which they are…

Suggests that there are three phases in the foreign language teaching/learning process through which the learner progresses from dependence on the teacher to independence in utterance. These phases are: (1) presentation, (2) precommunicative activity, and (3) communicative activity. The second phase, which is often passed over, is discussed in…

Illustrates how elementary-secondary teachers often ask students to perform tasks beyond their abilities. Argues that writing teachers should learn what can reasonably be expected at various grade levels; show students how to improve; and focus sequentially on the four stages of writing-- fluidity, versatility, correctness, and style. (AYC)

Makes a counterpoint to a previous article that makes a case for using the exploratory approach to teaching second languages in middle schools. The article advocates a well-organized and sequential language program at the middle school level that includes interdisciplinary ties, content-based instruction, and a strong linguistic and cultural…

Addresses the need for a balance between skills- oriented and content-oriented approaches to teaching social studies. Suggests a program in which an updated skills sequence could be interposed over an identified scope of prime content. (Author/KC)

The article compares three levels systems (with levels representing stages toward self-management) for elementary, junior and senior high, and residential programs serving behaviorally disordered students. Levels systems offer structure within which various individualized treatments are implemented. A step-by-step procedure for developing a levels…

This paper provides guidelines for the use of videotape recordings for systematic instruction in functional skills for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Four examples illustrate use of videotapes to teach community skills (e.g., crossing a street) to secondary students with moderate disabilities; self care skills (e.g., zipping a…

Describes a sequence for teaching the Russian passive construction to exemplify how a learning sequence based on a contrastive analysis and on error analysis can lessen student errors. These errors are caused either by interference from the first language or over-generalization in the second language. (PMJ)