This newsletter highlights the importance of strength training in keeping older adults healthy and fit, explaining how it can forestall declines in strength and muscle mass, along with their attendant negative impact upon other metabolic functions and activities of daily living. Physical inactivity is common throughout the nation. Approximately 11…

Eighth-grade students normally turned off by poetry became enthusiastic and skilled writers of the cinquain, haiku, tanka and Korean sijo forms after teacher explained their structure and showed films for inspiration. (PD)

Describes a correspondence exchange between New England and California high school students. (RD)

Special issue devoted to teaching Level II French. (DS)

The effects of the menstrual cycle on the performance, heart rate, and body temperature of female athletes are discussed. Biological causes of menstrual problems such as dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea are explained. Research indicates that the higher the level of training achieved, the less effect each cycle phase has on physical performance. (PP)

Parents can help their children become better writers by reinforcing the importance of writing and by giving children plenty of opportunities to write. Twenty-three specific suggestions for improving children's writing at home are listed. (PP)

Existing and potential applications of the computer to writing instruction are outlined, including choosing and developing a subject, text analysis, simulation, and motivation. Some concerns about computer use in writing instruction are also discussed. (MSE)

An experiment in which students were required to keep journals during a civil engineering course is described. Student benefits (journals as problem-solving tools and forums for personal comments), faculty benefits (sources of background information and use as evaluation/recordkeeping tools), and five major conclusions are discussed. (JN)

Authors of "For the Love of Writing" suggest projects that will teach pupils how to write letters that will get responses, thus stimulating interest. Techniques for writing complimentary letters, mystery letters, animal letters, book report letters, bottle and balloon messages, and sending electronic mail are discussed. (PP)

Describes how a Wisconsin agricultural journalism course for nonmajors achieves success, despite large enrollments, through a heavy diet of writing exercises, review questions, out-of-class help, and student presentations. (HOD)