Analysis of transcripts and survey responses of undergraduate students in one university identified three types of student extenders (full-time students taking longer than normal to complete a degree), determined by financial need, grade-consciousness, and special situations. Characteristics of these groups are compared with those posited by…

A commentary precedes this previously published article that uses case studies of two highly gifted preschool students to illustrate potential pitfalls in program planning. Three key components (assessment, flexible scheduling, and counseling) are stressed as critical to the success of any gifted program. (Contains references.) (CR)

Recommends identifying elements in the physical classroom and the daily schedule that may contribute to children's aggressive behaviors. Suggests observing the child and looking at the daily routine as the basis for creating a suitable environment. Lists ways to reduce stimulation and stress, and identifies benefits of extended play time. (DLH)

Documents the process of exploring the Reggio Emilia approach in Head Start classrooms in Iowa. Describes areas of exploration, including revising the classroom environments and daily schedules, using more documentation, instituting child-initiated projects, and collaborating on a deeper level with colleagues. Includes excerpts from children's…

Block scheduling has the potential to affect several aspects of the library media program--information literacy instruction, collection development, access to the library media center, and collaboration between teacher and teacher- librarian. To explore these, two schools--a high school and middle school--that have implemented block scheduling are…

Presents a case study of the use of computers to improve student reading scores at a rural southern junior high school. Student achievement, cost effectiveness, scheduling, curriculum, time constraints, and student needs are discussed, and results are reported that show a definite improvement in reading scores after two years. (LRW)

Distance Learning Providers serve large populations of learners, frequently offering the same course to different groups of learners over lengthy periods of time. This article argues that (re-) running e-learning courses with different combinations of learners and staff requires a distinction between abstract representations of courses and…

Virtual courses and schools--in which the student and the teacher are in different locations--have become commonplace at the university and high school level. Public, full-time virtual schooling for younger students, however, is still on the frontier of education. About a dozen states now offer full-time virtual schools among their public school…

The article describes a partnership between two of the libraries at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) through which two staff in one library worked part-time at the other during the summer of 2006 in order to maximize staffing efficiency among the units, as well as to realize professional development-related goals for the staff…

The issue of whether to separate English language development (ELD) into a separate instructional block or whether to integrate it with reading/language arts instruction is an unanswered question with theoretical and practical implications. We addressed this question by observing instruction across the year in 85 kindergarten classrooms that…

This paper discusses the challenges and difficulties of adopting new "authentic" methods of instruction that help students not only learn but also develop habits that enable them to use their knowledge more effectively. "Authentic" methods of instruction are defined as those that require students to produce (not just reproduce) knowledge relevant…

Some school reform programs, such as the "Copernican Plan," advocate long blocks of classroom instruction time to allow greater instructional flexibility and active student participation in classroom work. This study investigated the effectiveness of this strategy by examining the perceptions of high school teachers who were entering or…

The cost-effective management of instructional programs and facilities will continue to be a fundamental educational issue in the 21st century. This handbook discusses issues to be considered in assessing the cost effectiveness of year-round education (YRE). YRE has the potential to enhance student retention of material, reduce teacher and student…

It is argued that field trips and related activities in and out of the classroom, especially when well-planned, have educational, social, and cultural value for students of English as a Second Language (ESL). They offer meaningful learning experiences, extra learning opportunities, and authentic language encounters with native English-speakers.…

A questionnaire and interview survey of the coordinators of seven Texas institutions investigated the organizational structure and curricular focus of university intensive English language programs. The institutions included Dallas Baptist University, North Texas State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Wesleyan University, the University…