Discusses measures language teachers can use to maintain and develop their communicative language ability. Introduces strategies teachers can adopt and mentions ways in which educational systems and universities can assist teachers. The model presented is relevant to teachers of any language. (13 references) (Author/CK)

Describes a study to investigate how effectively concept mapping can be used to focus children on their own learning in science and to provide a way of describing their own achievements. Findings indicate that some children were able to identify specific targets for future learning. Motivation and metacognition were the main areas of benefit. (PVD)

Describes the experiences of a secondary mathematics education student as a MATHCOUNTS coach for sixth graders. Explains the program, coaching duties, and how the approach evolved in trying to shift student focus from finding the right answer to finding a logical approach to solving problems. Discusses the experience in terms of the National…

A mathematics teacher shares a family discussion about Pythagorean triples as her child discovers new ideas about generating a triple. This idea can be useful for introducing students to the Pythagorean theorem. Observes that middle school students tend not to share creative insights in spite of supportive families and teachers. Presents…

Presents an activity in which students experience a scatterplot as a visual and kinesthetic tool for discovering patterns among variables and making predictions based on those patterns. Bridges the gap between algebraic and statistical graphs. (DDR)

Details six activities that utilize data contained in a telephone book. Topics include data display, fractional numeracy, random art, estimation, and probability. Contains a summary and extension activities, some of which focus on permutations and combinations. (DDR)

Describes a study focusing on student self-assessment and self-grading of examinations that test higher-order cognitive skills. The study supposed that by evaluating their own performance, students could not only enhance academic strengths and reduce weaknesses but also learn material in greater depth and further develop critical thinking skills.…

Presents examples of experiments designed for high school students with the help of a microcomputer-based laboratory called Explorer. Argues that these tools enable students to investigate many principles of physics that were not feasible in the past. (DDR)

Lends support to the idea that the quality of the cases used in problem-based learning affects the nature of student learning in this context. Outlines seven principles adapted from research on learning and cognition that can help guide case design. Contains 22 references. (DDR)

Analyzed the diaries of Chinese students of English as a Second Language to ascertain their beliefs and knowledge about their listening to English. Findings indicate that many retained clear ideas about their own role and performance as second-language listeners, the demands and procedures of this listening, as well as listening strategies. (13…

Reproduces a teaching strategy from the "Beginning and Intermediate Band" volume of the "Strategies for Teaching" series. The reproduction includes the objective, procedures, materials used, prior knowledge and experiences, indicators of success, and follow-up activities. The strategy supports the musical instructional standard 4C: composing and…

Proposes that once the elements of procedural understanding have been explicitly defined, appropriate teaching strategies can then be used to enable student understanding. Argues that explicitly teaching these concepts may add rigor to GNVQ assignments. (DDR)

This study reports on the development and psychometric properties of a new 87-item Mathematics Information Processing Scale that explores learning strategies, metacognitive problem-solving skills, and attentional deployment. Results with 340 college students support the use of the instrument, for which factor analysis identified five theoretically…

Defines contextual learning, or presenting new information to students in familiar contexts. Argues that community colleges must be ready for an anticipated increase in contextual learners due to its use in tech prep programs. Describes elements of contextual learning, its application in the classroom, and ways that colleges can prepare for…

Presents classroom data from over a 10-year period on group work in practice. Findings indicate that collaborative learning tasks need careful planning of both the task and classroom organization. Transcripts of children's talk are analyzed to determine how the composition of the groups, the task set and the classroom organizational strategies can…