Focuses on the benefits of participating in chamber music ensembles, such as the development of a heightened level of awareness, and considers the role of the music educator/conductor. Provides tools and exercises that teachers can introduce to chamber music players to improve their rehearsals and performances. (CMK)

Describes a team-based approach for creating Sentence Verification Technique (SVT) tests, a development procedure that allows teachers and other school personnel to develop comprehension tests from curriculum materials in use in their schools. Finds that if tests are based on materials that are appropriate for the population to be tested, the…

This article describes aspects of classroom acoustics that interfere with the ability of listeners to understand speech. It considers impacts on students and teachers and offers four possible solutions: noise control, signal control without amplification, individual amplification systems, and sound field amplification systems. (Author/DB)

Discusses fostering democratic principles in the literature classroom, moving from reader response to democratic community, listening and democracy, listening together as teachers, and democratic reading and the integration of thought and feeling--all stemming from the work of Louise Rosenblatt and applied to the classroom and teacher/student…

Describes the skills needed by teachers to work effectively with parents. Explains the use of active listening, "I" messages, correct diagnosis of problems, and synergistic problem-solving. Asserts that as these tools become part of a teacher's repertoire of skills, they begin to feel natural and teachers become proficient and…

Provides suggestions for teachers new to Edwin Gordon's music learning theory, describing an incremental approach to audiation-based instrumental music instruction. Discusses teaching methods to introduce audiation, improving students' audiation skills, using tonal patterns to improve intonation, and Gordon's rhythm syllable system. Includes a…

Two experiments examined memory of 7-month-olds after 2-week retention interval for passages of two Mozart movements heard daily for 2 weeks. Results suggested that the infants retained familiarized music in long-term memory and that their listening preferences were affected by the extent to which familiar passages were removed from the musical…

Examines in-depth one kindergarten child's comprehension when reading "considerate" (including multimedia effects integral to the story) and "inconsiderate" (including incidental multimedia effects) CD-ROM talking books in a classroom computer center. Finds considerate CD-ROM talking books support the child's understanding and retelling of the…

Discusses how audiobooks can be used in the classroom; different settings where audiobooks can be used; and the advantages of listening to audiobooks instead of silent reading. Provides a list of eight audiobooks that can be used for a social studies unit to find a creative solution to childhood struggles. (CMK)

Details visit that demonstrated education principles of preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Highlights six principles: (1) documentation to keep past alive; (2) relationality to understand how connections are built; (3) reciprocity to suggest different treatment of time; (4) collaboration to relate child to community; (5) transparency to build…

Discusses how teachers can use automated voice recording systems (AVRS) in English-as-Second-Language classes. AVRS messages present an interesting way to involve students in active listening and response, while developing useful skills for daily life. (Author/VWL)

Explores the relationship between written and spoken language and questions whether skills and strategies used in reading can be effectively transferred to listening. Suggests working from the text may be more productive than using strategies. Field questions these assumptions, and Ridgway defends his point. (Author/VWL)

Investigated how well nonnative speakers (NNSs) could modify their output toward comprehensibility when interacting with native speakers (NSs) and NNSs, noting how often modified comprehensible output (MCO) was other- or self-initiated. Picture-dictation and opinion-exchange task data indicated that most repairs were self-initiated. NNS-NNS…

Inconclusive evidence that second-language learners understand a foreign language better than they speak it led to a study of the comprehension of native and nonnative speakers. Results indicated that second-language learners speak better than they understand. The paper discusses three conditions for learning: overt activity, emotional…

Examined effects of using Spanish captions, English captions, or no captions with a Spanish-language soundtrack on intermediate university-level Spanish as a foreign language students' comprehension of DVD passage material. Results revealed that the English captions group performed at a substantially higher level than the Spanish captions group,…