This paper urges special educators to be wary of borrowing fashionable rhetoric of postmodernism to justify constructivism in the reform of instruction and curriculum without disentangling accompanying constructs and values. There are higher stakes for special education, particularly in national curriculum and testing reform, that accompany…

The effect of the introduction of the National Curriculum on ecology teaching in England and Wales is assessed. The ecological content of the new curriculum is compared with practicing ecologists' views of what constitutes ecology. (Author)

Study examined the ways preservice teachers made curriculum decisions for elementary classrooms. Participants created three approaches to curriculum integration, and researchers compared their underlying beliefs. Results indicated students needed a stronger knowledge base and a more deliberative stance toward curriculum development. The study…

Addresses causes and significance of geographic illiteracy among U. S. students. Defines geographic literacy as a holistic view of the earth. Identifies the five themes for geographic education and makes suggestions for preservice teacher education. Provides organizations promoting geographic literacy and lists state requirements for graduation.…

The difficulties and misconceptions that many students experience when learning to visualize graphs of functions are discussed. Specifically, the inability to make accurate connections between symbolic and graphical representations, the lack of understanding about scale and scaling, and the confusion caused by transformations are examined with…

Urges incorporation of ethics into social studies curriculum. Provides an overview of ethical theory including principle-based theories of utilitarianism and deontology and virtue-based theories. Discusses philosophies of social science including positivism, interpretivism, and critical social science. Suggests teaching methods and curriculum…

Brown University's Coalition of Essential Schools offers alternatives to traditional routines and practices. The article observes three Essential Schools teachers who have begun changing their classroom practices. Information is presented from an ongoing, three-year study of teacher change sponsored by the coalition. (SM)

This article summarizes the major cognitive, behavioral, and language characteristics of the Fragile X syndrome and considers their educational implications. This common heritable cause of mental disability has implications for teaching style, curriculum, family counseling, and speech therapy. (DB)

The "Armstrong Diagnostic and Prescriptive Technique" of curriculum modification involves modifying the curriculum, first, to accommodate the shared learning characteristics of gifted students and, second, to accommodate individual differences. Use of the technique and checklist are illustrated by a case study. (DB)

Argues that the elementary social studies curriculum is based on unimportant and disconnected topics that are of little relevance or interest to students. Proposes a curriculum based on major social education goals such as shelter, citizen participation, and the appreciation of a multicultural society. Suggests seven steps teachers can use to…

Describes new approaches to mathematics education outlined in standards published by the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics. Highlights a new emphasis on interactive learning and real world applications in favor of rote memorization and drilling. Discusses the role of standards in educational reform efforts and suggests steps for change.…

Presents results of a study in which a "Great Issues" format was utilized in a U.S. history survey course. Describes the teaching methods and instructional resources used in the pilot study. Finds that both students and instructors enjoyed the experience, and student discussion and analytical skills improved. (CFR)

Describes a college-level interdisciplinary honors course on the rights of children. Explains how students review historical and contemporary legal issues from a psychological perspective. Recommends using the method as a separate course or integrated into other psychology courses. (CFR)

Describes an upper-level undergraduate psychology course in which students applied psychological research to contemporary social issues. Students presented two reports on a controversial issue: one based on media reports and the other based on their own research. Reports that the experience gave students a better understanding of the strengths and…

Recommends using an activity-based approach to art history similar to that of the "new social studies" movement of the 1960s. Provides suggestions for activities related to art criticism, style, and inductive learning. Concludes that student activities can help integrate art history and studio art in art education programs. (CFR)