Results of a study found little difference in correct responding or on-task behavior of three children (ages 9-12) with emotional or behavioral disorders when a function was provided for written assignments, or arithmetic assignments were shortened, until a model for correct responding was added. (Contains references.) (CR)

Describes a unit that provides opportunities for students to examine the relationship between poetry and pictures as they select published poems, write their own poetry, and take photographs to accompany the poems in an anthology. Describes lesson one on intellectual property and copyright, and lesson two on appreciation. Includes a unit guide and…

Recommends using time bonding (finding a role model and researching the process and story behind that individual's accomplishments) as a means to interest students in history. Outlines the instructions covering the objectives of the writing assignments. Students researched a variety of biographies including Jackie Robinson and Lyndon Johnson. (MJP)

Describes five writing activities and assignments designed to help students understand the content of social studies and the process of writing. These include student journals, biographical poems, elaborate word games, and creative writing exercises. Illustrative examples relate these to social studies issues. (MJP)

The following tips are provided for teachers of students with autism: highlight important concepts; establish alternate modes for completing assignments; use graphic and visual and mnemonic devices for maximizing retention; and prepare the student for instructional and classroom transitions. Tips for increasing time on task and attention are also…

Describes an initiative that enabled applied linguistics' students to collaborate on academic writing assignments outside the classroom using a network of wireless laptops to facilitate flexible meeting times and locations. (Author/VWL)

Discusses results of interviews with five university teacher education professors that asked about their first-time experiences offering online courses. Recommends four categories for improvements: preparation, including a good introductory Web page for students; structure, including promoting interactivity by limiting class size and using…

Characterizes middle school teachers' discussions of assigned readings from a variety of content area materials. Finds that the teachers' purpose appeared to influence the type of discussion they conducted and that their actual discussions seldom resembled their articulated abstract definitions of a good discussion. (KEH)

Investigates the effects of highly structured versus less structured lessons on student narrative writing. Finds that the less structured lessons resulted in superior student writing and the highly structured lessons resulted in mechanical, fill-in-the-blank responses. (MG)

Shares ways in which teachers who use a basal reading series can go beyond the manual and integrate the whole language approach into the language arts program. (MG)

Shows how findings from science education, instructional design, and educational psychology can help journalism students develop explanatory skills for technical phenomena. Emphasizes understanding readers' key difficulties, appreciating distinct explanatory goals, and practicing well-tested explanatory strategies. Discusses key difficulties and…

Maintains that in order to get quality engaging essays, students must be fully cognizant of what is expected of them. Discusses areas that need to be defined for students. Proposes four C's for designing assignments: clearness, completeness, conciseness, and candidness. (RW)

Describes ways to increase students' writing and communication skills in high school chemistry and physics classes: term papers in chemistry, shorter papers on fascinating physics questions, and oral presentation of the results. (SR)

Describes and evaluates four assignments used as part of the coursework component of the British General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Business Studies Syllabus A examination. Exercises cover the structure of industry in the local area; communications in the school; marketing techniques; and the establishment of a new business. (LS)

Describes interactive games that can be used to encourage students to complete reading assignments, and gives suggestions for improving the usefulness of readings. The games emphasize instructional objectives including verbal fluency, recall of facts, perceiving important points, summarizing, heuristics, debating, and tutorial support. (LRW)