In this study, fourth-grade materials based on a linguistic approach to grammar known as sector analysis were devised, field-tested, and evaluated. Two socioeconomically similar fourth grades--experimental and control groups--were pre- and post-tested to find possible changes in the complexity of their sentence structure after the experimental…

The objectives of this study were to identify specific performance demands of choral literature written by contemporary American composers, to relate these demands to the skills and knowledge required to learn this music, and to formulate teaching procedures that lead to successful performance. The compositions used, William Schuman's "The…

This project provided for a continuing experimental education program co-sponsored by the Oregon State Public Welfare Commission, the Portland State College School of Social Work, and the Division of Continuing Education in the Oregon State Department of Higher Education. It was designed to provide a practice-focused approach to professional…

Examines teaching techniques and units which have proven successful in motivating low-interest high school students in social studies and English. Units on effective listening, vocabulary meaning, and personality are described. (DB)

Forty-three preschoolers learned the concept of one-to-one correspondence by matched discovery, expository, or observational learning. The groups did not differ on short-term recall and near transfer, but the discovery group excelled on far transfer and delayed recall. The effect of guided discovery on broader learning outcomes was also discussed.…

Suggests ways to construct multiple choice questions which test both factual knowledge and critical thinking. Three models explain how to relate facts, fact sets, and reasons to hypotheses and concepts. (Author/DB)

The efficacy of experimental, competency-based methods of teaching the interpersonal skills of empathic communication, respect, and genuineness is compared with traditional didactic methods. Experimental groups taught with communication laboratories significantly outperformed control groups. (Author/LBH)

The effects of a structured instructional approach and of an inquiry-based instructional approach on the abilities of teachers to read and interpret research literature in education were examined in a study using 69 graduate students. Both methods proved effective, and the results indicate that improved interpretation skills can be taught. (LBH)

Underprepared students deserve targeted instruction and practical content to develop communication skills. To implement a narrow, traditional approach in teaching these skills would be shortsighted and ultimately disastrous. (Author/LBH)

Examines the socialization of student question-asking behavior. Documents students' self-initiated questions in an attempt to determine whether high- and low-potential students learn different questioning skills. Findings generally support the authors' passivity model, which claims that students learn to become passive in classrooms because of…

A review of research on teaching social skills to severely handicapped persons discusses training procedures, domain, generalization, maintenance, cost efficiency, reliability, social interaction partners, social validation, research design, and simulation. Evaluation of nine studies affirms that severely handicapped persons can learn to interact…

Describes the "ALERT" procedure, whereby teachers may combine the language experience approach with the use of radio, television, newspaper, and magazine advertisements in a strategy that is useful for developing critical thinking skills, even in very young students. (ARH)

Proposes use of computer simulations to help students build reading comprehension skills, and describes an existing simulation which requires readers to interact with text to accomplish some purpose. Differences between teaching reading skills with simulations and the way they are traditionally taught, and future potential of reading simulations…

Discusses the role of the English teacher in teaching reading. Concludes that successful instruction is comprised of interaction between students and the teacher, sound methods, and appropriate materials. (FL)