Four papers on responding to diversity in the schools were presented at the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory's Urban School Leadership Mini-Conference. This document presents two, a framework for the discussions by John Attinasi and an exploration of how differences in culture and language affect academic achievement. "Academic…

This book identifies strategies for use by classroom teachers in grades K-8 to nurture the development of creativity. Section 1 offers general strategies to stimulate productive thinking. Section 2 examines personality, creative thinking, and appropriate teaching strategies. Section 3 is dedicated to teaching special groups. Section 4 focuses on…

Providing students with the opportunity to study different cultures increases their global understanding and helps foster tolerance of cultural differences. In this lesson, grade 3-5 students read folk tales from Japan, Wales, and Africa and depict the stories visually for purposes of retelling. Students also research the countries and share a…

This paper provides an introduction to the use of site visits as a form of live case study in IS (Information Systems) courses at the University of Canterbury (New Zealand). Site visits are relatively easy to organize and can effectively complement other teaching methods. Importantly, students like the reality of site visits and the variety they…

Two studies were conducted to determine the impact of instructional rubrics on the development of students' writing skills and their understanding of the qualities of good writing. In the first study, 303 eighth graders were given an instructional rubric before writing 1 of 3 different types of essays. Results suggest that an instructional rubric…

This study examined the differences and similarities experienced by secondary school science teachers when teaching science within and outside their area of specialization in single sex and co-educational schools. Interviews were conducted and audio taped for six experienced science teachers on their qualification, classes/subjects taught and…

A plan that incorporates diagnostic teaching, unit planning, and flexible grouping is described. It takes into account individual differences, the mathematics curriculum, and time available. Planning for the year, grouping, management, evaluation, and students' awareness are discussed. (MNS)

Describes a staff development program designed to help Adult Basic Education/English as a Second Language teachers make their instruction more relevant to culturally pluralistic students caught up in the growing economic crunch. (JOW)

A study assessed whether the nature of training experiences influences development of coincident timing skills in young children, using a task involving eye-hand coordination. Researchers concluded that such training should emphasize slower speed stimuli and blocking of additional speeds which are more rapid. (Authors/PP)

Concludes that White student teachers in predominately Hispanic schools were more concerned about curriculum implementation and teaching methodology than about problems relating to cultural variation. (FL)

A randomized pre-posttest control group design was used with 34 university students in consumer economics to investigate aptitude-treatment interaction under a computer assisted instruction (CAI) and text mode of programmed instruction. Findings indicated a relative advantage of CAI for the lower aptitude student. Sixteen references are listed.…

A case study approach was taken to determine the degree to which teachers, enrolled in a graduate methods class in language arts and reading, comprehended new theories and applied them in their classrooms. Results indicated that there were broad differences in teacher behavior. Approaches to be taken in changing teacher behavior are discussed. (JN)

Discusses some of the ways reading instructors have responded to individual differences in children. Methods described include grouping for instruction, self-selected reading, language-experience reading, individualized instruction, skill development, and computer-assisted instruction. The teacher's role is discussed. (Author/DB)

Learning disabled and slowly developing readers were assigned to reading instruction programs on context cue use differing only in extent of pupil control over determination of errors. Results indicated no main effect for experimental condition. Interaction was found, however, between pretreatment locus of attribution and experimental condition.…

Presents instructional aspects of elementary education classrooms in Mexico. Topics addressed are conditions of instruction, instructional priorities, types of instruction, evaluation of instruction, teacher-pupil relationships, and home-school relationships. Implications are given for teachers in the United States who teach transfer students from…