Science teaching practices at the Long Island School for the Gifted emphasize hands-on experiments where children do the work and the teacher assists learning. This approach bypasses the reading/writing barrier that prevents some children from learning science. Many science experiments are described, including a first-grade lesson on using…

Expressing a communication perspective on teaching public relations, this booklet is designed for instructors of public relations courses. The introduction to the booklet establishes the theoretical grounding of this investigation, namely, the mutual relationship between public relations and communication. The first section explicates the…

A discussion is provided of an instructional technique which has been used in a lower-division biology course to identify and clearly define critical thinking skills for students, model the skills, and give students frequent feedback by describing and evaluating what they are doing. Section I considers the links between the critical thinking and…

The process approach to teaching writing can be a useful tool to develop important skills in emotionally disturbed/behavior disordered students. Skills such as self-exploration, self-expression, problem solving, risk taking, and interaction with others can be improved through the writing process. An enhanced self-concept is another product of this…

Studies have revealed significant problems in correctly scoring ambiguous verbal responses to test items on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). This study evaluated the effectiveness of an instructional design procedure developed to reduce examiner scoring errors on the WISC-R. Data concerning frequent sources of error…

Cognitive theories of problem solving and suggestions made by cognitive psychologists regarding how to teach problem solving are reviewed. Theories and suggestions from creativity research are also considered. The results are summarized in terms of a description of how high levels of proficiency in problem solving are acquired and how problem…

This guidebook contains materials from "NOTES Plus," the National Council of Teachers of English's (NCTE's) journal for the exchange of ideas by teachers and other English professionals. The suggestions presented here are meant for use by substitute teachers. The activities are divided into five categories: "Thinking and Writing with…

In the teaching of reading, diverse methods are available to encourage student learning. These methods include: testing and measuring; subject matter approaches; student decision-making and the affective dimension; and problem solving procedures. With testing and measuring methods, measurably stated objectives are predetermined for student…

A domain-specific information processing model of problem solving behavior in elementary electrostatics was developed. Instruction based on this model was evaluated in a large university-level physics course. The experimental design utilized treatment and instructor as crossed factors. Dependent variables included a test of problem solving…

This paper considers the nature of "understanding" in mathematics, and of instruction designed to foster it. The first part is theoretical, presenting an argument that there are (at least) three qualitatively different components to competent mathematical performance: (1) possession of the appropriate set of cognitive "resources," (2) the ability…

Social studies teachers can involve their students in an issues-oriented curriculum by using the least expensive, least threatening medium available, the newspaper. The newspaper's stock in trade is the relevant, timely issue--just what is missing from all too many social studies classrooms. In dealing with issues in social studies classrooms,…

Because of the extensiveness of the course outline for Math 301 (Manitoba Department of Education), schools would have had to purchase several different textbooks to cover the material adequately. Therefore, a set of materials to supplement the guide was developed. The exercises, projects, and reviews contained in this package are keyed to the 301…

Because of the extensiveness of the course outline for Math 201 (Manitoba Department of Education), schools would have had to purchase several different textbooks to cover the material adequately. Therefore, a set of materials to supplement the guide was developed. The exercises, projects, and reviews contained in this package are keyed to the 201…

A problem-solving method of teaching was used in the recitation sections of a freshmen chemistry course for science and engineering majors at Purdue University. The method was based on prior research which revealed that good problem solvers formed better representations and used heuristics more often than poor problem solvers. Consequently, the…

The extremely popular "training" studies, virtually all of which have been devoted to the attempt to experimentally induce conservation in nonconserving subjects, were discussed with respect to the logic underlying the method and surrounding theoretical and methodological difficulties. (Author/SDH)