Although an Illinois district had worked successfully with the Thoughtful Education model for instructional and curriculum reform, its tests still focused students' attention on grades. Using personalized learning principles stressing choice, understanding, motivation, engagement, critical thinking, and reflection, faculty created tests compatible…

Finds that, by teaching history in conjunction with literature, students grasp historical understanding because they begin to acquire a deeper understanding of their role in constructing the past. States that literature helps create strong images often missing in students' responses to nonfiction material. Gives Alejandro Morales's "The Brick…

Describes an evaluation of the Teachers as Counselors (TAC) program in which students were given an evaluation to complete that measured satisfaction with the program, life events, and associated stresses. Results show that a lack of consistency in the defining or supporting role of the counselor minimizes direct services to students. (Author/JDM)

Proposes two complementary strategies that contribute to opportunities for active learning: one, hyperlink teaching, is an alternative mode of in-class lecture delivery; the second, intelligent slides, resembles information bases that are enhanced with electronic links for use by students outside the classroom. The questionnaire used to gauge…

Explores the relationship between literary theory and children's literature in teacher-education classrooms, positioning itself in the gap between books and children, texts and readers, and theory and practice in literature. Concludes by offering the author's experience as an example of the richness the use of literary theory brings to an…

Discusses Mindy Faber's autobiographical video as an allegory of contradictory interpretations of female hysteria as both a theater of femininity and feminist revolt. Provides an analysis of the resonance between student responses to "Delirium" (her auto/biographical video about her mother's long battle with mental illness) and…

Analyzes the effort of a small group of high school seniors to interpret the character of Laertes in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" through a "body biography," a life-sized human outline they filled with images and words representing their understanding of the character. Examines their discussion as they composed their text. (PA)

Explores the effect of classroom-workplace collaborations on student learning. Explores how classroom-workplace collaborations help to teach professional genres. Examines how they replicate workplace activity and convey features of workplace genres and how they serve as transitional experiences for students. Examines students' reactions to the…

New Zealand is attempting to introduce a "seamless" system of qualifications for senior secondary school students delivered through modules (learning units) and linked to higher education qualifications. This paper studies how one school's change to a modular curriculum delivery system affected staff and students. Staff perceptions…

States that a yearbook has the potential of doing good in its school and community, but can also violate good taste and do damage to individuals. Advises the use of "common sense" when writing captions and thoughtfulness and informed action when dealing with what could be legal complications. (PA)

Explores adult musicians' first remembrances of music. Reports that the first remembered responses appeared around ages 3-5; were associated with high affect, positive feelings, and "other persons present"; and indicated both the place where early music experience happened and the specific "music or genre." (CMK)

Examines the mechanics of a large-scale writing portfolio assessment at the University of Michigan, including its impact on matriculation and placement; students' reactions to the requirement; and instructors' evaluation of the efficacy of placements under the new system. Examines the scoring process used by readers to assess portfolios, and…

Describes a classroom demonstration that uses daily horoscopes to show the effect that expectation can have on judgment. Addresses the preparation, procedure, and results of the demonstration, and student evaluations. States that the demonstration appears to be effective for teaching students about expectancy confirmation. (CMK)

Surveys the implementation of language experience and considers its benefits. Describes how teachers use language experience to demonstrate that language is used to express ideas and thoughts. Concludes that literacy educators need to redouble efforts to model Language Experience at all levels of professional development and to link theory with…

Summarizes evidence from two evaluative studies of the initial training course for new teaching staff at Oxford Brookes University, UK. Findings indicate that the course has had a positive effect for most of the participants. Presents evidence of the positive feedback in the form of comments from several participants. Attitude statements used in…