Debunks various myths and misperceptions concerning developmentally appropriate practices. Developmental appropriateness is a philosophy, not a curriculum. Despite using alternative learning strategies such as guided play, teachers are in control, facilitate real academic learning, and build on what they already know. DAP is universal and can…

Provides an activity where Ohm's Law deviates from linearity. Compares the current as a function of voltage for carbon resistors, a tungsten filament, and a light-emitting diode (LED). (MVL)

Discusses 10 myths of science including science finds answers to questions, science states causes, sample size is irrelevant to science, evidence can definitively confirm a hypothesis, scientists are always open to new ideas, peer acceptance of results is unimportant, science operates independently of society, science precedes technology, and…

Reading instruction can be transformed into cynical test-beating exercises. Victory arises from frequent practice in taking similar tests. Students who spend most of their time on test-type activities generally do better on reading tests than those who "waste" time reading for information or pleasure. Teachers whose students score highest on…

Discusses students' preconceptions of randomness and offers an alternative way to think about the concept using the idea of complexity. That is, the randomness of a sequence can be measured by the difficulty of encoding it. Methods of judging complexity and implications for teaching are discussed. (Contains 30 references.) (MKR)

Criticizes the William Bennett/Emily Feistritzer "Report Card on American Education 1993" for misrepresenting the "crisis" condition of U.S. education. State rankings of SAT scores flatten data and exaggerate differences. Bennett also ignores influence of limited English proficiency, poverty, and percentage of test-takers on…

Presents the results of a survey on evolution given to 392 university students in western Pennsylvania. Concludes that, although nearly three-quarters of the students say they believe in the theory of evolution, most do not understand the mechanism behind it. (PR)

Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz was completed by 245 respondents (28%) from developmental disabilities (DD), aging, and other social service agencies in Washington. Overall, respondents got 64% correct; DD personnel scored lower than others. Most often missed items related to psychological aspects of aging, demographic trends, and socioeconomic…

Based on the author's experience with the Atlas Community Project, this article identifies six different types of knowledge needed to mount a comprehensive reform effort: technical, resource, local, process, strategic, and organizational. Efforts to promote comprehensive changes do not necessarily make the reform processes markedly more successful…

Discusses what is meant by a process being described as chaotic and how such situations come about. Argues that clarifying this concept is particularly important because understanding chaos helps cure far more fundamental common misconceptions. (ASK)

Unlike Japanese and European schools, U.S. public schools treat music as a nonserious, peripheral "activity" suitable for a few talented students. However, music education is as fundamental to the curriculum as math or reading. One study showed that high-school musicians achieved higher Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. (15 references)…

A California teacher in a successful Structured English Program criticizes Keith Baker's November 1998 article's inaccuracies. Baker fails to recognize that gains of immersion and early-exit students in David Ramirez's study are not sustained over time. Also, he erroneously compares study results of defined and ill-defined programs. (MLH)

Argues that much of the conceptual-change literature does not study change per se, but infers, often from interviews, changes in students' conceptions and discourse during learning. Concludes that what is needed are descriptions of learning trajectories. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

In standard mathematical notation it is common to have a given symbol take on different meanings in different settings. Shares anecdotes of how this symbolic double entendre causes difficulties for students. Suggests ways in which instructors can clarify these ambiguities to make mathematics more understandable to students. (Author/ASK)

Examines the limits of what constitutes "school improvement." Critically assesses whether large-scale reorganization initiatives in two (British) local education agencies embody elements of a school-improvement initiative. Policy makers could maximize such initiatives' potential by incorporating a school-improvement focus into their…