There are numerous vital middle-school programs, including cooperative learning, advisory programs, interdisciplinary curricula, and exploratory activities that can invite costly lawsuits if not properly structured and supervised. Educators should follow district policies and procedures, develop classroom rules for all grade levels, give adequate…

Reviews a number of classroom research projects conducted at Pfeiffer College, which investigated four teaching strategies: using modified cooperative learning groups within courses; linking upper-level students to selected lower-level students; using coached cooperative learning groups; and peer mentoring. (DMM)

Robert Slavin's position--that extrinsic rewards promote student motivation and learning--may be valid within the context of a "facts-and-skills" curriculum. However, extrinsic rewards are unnecessary when schools offer engaging learning activities; programs addressing social, ethical, and cognitive development; and a supportive…

Describes a computer-assisted simulation that was used to improve foreign language learning among engineering and teaching students. The use of telecommunications is discussed; the foreign policy orientation of the simulation is described; and the positive effects of the simulation on student motivation, independent learning, and cooperation are…

Infusing cooperative strategies into the business education curriculum provides a feasible way to ensure the development of technical literacy but not at the expense of workplace literacy and employability skills. (JOW)

A sixth grade teacher discusses how she enhanced student writing and thinking skills by having them collaborate on a class monster story. The article describes how they created the story. A copy of the story is included. (SM)

Asserts that students' ability to evaluate writing stems from the confidence they gain by collaborating with classmates. Describes a remedial college writing course for foreign students that was conducted as a workshop. Discusses how the successful use of collaboration and peer response activities helped the students to become more confident…

Describes how an eighth grade English teacher used photographs to help motivate students to read and write poetry. (PRA)

Describes a project which sought to extend literacy from an academic, school-bound definition to integrate the literacies of students' communities and personal lives by designing and carrying out integrated curricular projects and studying personal changes in teaching and learning. Discusses multiple literacies and the positive effects of the…

Asks college-level seniors in a business communication class which activities they believe help them improve their writing. Discusses the changes in their preferences between the first and last days of class. States that the results were disappointing because students seemed to value grammar exercises and lectures over outside reading and…

Describes a class project/case study where students draft a proposal and present it to a board for deliberation. Details how students analyze the current problem and the cause, brainstorm for a preferred and alternative solutions, and discuss advantages and disadvantages. (PRA)

Teachers can gradually develop the emotional and interpersonal infrastructure of their classroom communities through a creative program encouraging youngsters to write all the time and read to each other what they have written. The writing process involves four steps: brainstorming ideas, writing the rough draft, polishing the final draft, and…

Addresses the incorporation of cooperative learning in the secondary history classroom. Suggests procedures to be followed during the planning stage of a cooperative activity: (1) choose appropriate content; (2) for student teams; and (3) develop materials and directions. Suggests that the involvement of cooperative learning will offer motivation…

Two studies comparing urban and kibbutz children found that the acquisition of normative understandings was associated with a shift from mastery to ability explanations in urban, but not kibbutz, children. Cooperative learning settings helped maintain interest in using peers to promote mastery, even after the acquisition of the normative…

Presents results of a study to determine the effectiveness of the Stock Market Game in contributing to students' learning about financial markets. Suggests that the biggest advantage of the game it its ability to motivate students. Includes the test that was used by the study to determine how much the students had learned. (DK)