The author suggests that instruction in musical improvisation can serve any student interested in music. Improvisation is defined, teaching suggestions are presented, and selected resources for teaching with improvisation are included. The emphasis is on jazz, though most information is applicable to other kinds of improvisation. (KC)

Presented are a wide variety of current and older titles that teachers and students can use to better understand Native Americans. The following are included in the bibliography: planning aids, music, poetry, art, and fiction. (KC)

The authors make a case for integrating children's folklore into formal classrom settings and provide some ideas about how to do it. Resources for classroom folklore projects are included. (KC)

Describes the advantages of math learning centers; identifies elements of these centers; and provides suggestions, including management tools, for math learning centers. (DS)

Tips on the effective uses of newspapers exchanged between school publications staffs. Suggestions for gleaning editorial ideas and classroom instructional topics from exchanged newspapers. (RL)

The museum, unlike other educational systems, can rely on authentic objects, not words, as the chief educational tool. It is important to remember: to learn about objects can be educationally valid and interesting, but to learn from objects can stimulate even higher levels of learning. (Author/SJL)

The author offers fourteen suggestions for a school or business education department public relations program. She states that the role of the business educator in public relations is to present the whole educational picture and to involve the community in education and the school. (MF)

The article discusses the implementation of services to gifted and talented (G/T) public School students in Ohio including a schedule for establishing the program, definition of G/T, use of pre-existing resources in the schools, establishment of 10 task force groups, and community support. (PHR)

Presents a resource listing that includes those items which can potentially enhance an activity-oriented science curriculum. These materials are accessible to teachers at local schools, in libraries, and by mail. Each entry is coded for instructional intent: primary, elementary, and intermediate. Usual bibliographic information is provided. (MA)

A monthly exchange of tips, projects, ideas and resources. (Editor)

Discusses a study of a sample of Philadelphia public school students which uses growth in achievement to measure the output of the educational process and then examines the impact of variations in a large number of inputs. The major finding is that school inputs do help students and that many inputs have larger impact on some students' performance…

Accountability in education is a no-nonsense, bottom-line look at school responsibilities, school promises, school programs, school costs and school results. (Author)

Describes the methods that have been developed to blend descriptive chemistry and principles in a first-year chemistry course. The key is active teaching of the subject using the periodic table as a template. Inorganic chemistry is taught using a group approach: developing trends that help teaching and learning become obvious if all elements of…

Describes a research project where students use a wide variety of resources including the Internet to find information for their presentations on epidemiology. Highlights a few web sites that students have found particularly useful and interesting. (JRH)

School library media specialists recommend quality Web sites to children based on evaluations and Web awards. This article examines three types of Web awards and who grants them, suggests ways to determine their reliability, and discusses specific award sites. Includes a bibliography of Web sites. (PEN)