Asserts that writing must have as honored a place in the first grade curriculum as reading. Discusses the need for computers in writing labs, word processing in first grade, cooperative learning, staff development, and holistic projects and assessment. Describes the implementation of these ideas in Los Altos, California. (PRA)

A school community is a collection of people affiliated with a school who have identified shared educational values and associate with one another to act upon those values. School-related social capital has decreased because parents whose children attend a school do not necessarily associate. Tips for strengthening school community are provided.…

Describes a lesson using magazine photographs to help students learn about cultural diversity. Cooperative learning and discovery learning techniques are utilized. A student observation sheet and culture picture map are included. (CFR)

In the Philosophy for Children program, children discover the rudiments of their own philosophy and improve their reasoning and reflective skills through group dialogue. The teacher (facilitator) training model involves teacher participation in a similar community of inquiry and consideration of the role of critical reflection in educational…

Examines major principles and characteristics of cooperative learning, various instructional approaches, and the findings of cooperative learning studies in elementary and secondary schools. The relationship between cooperative learning and language learning is discussed. An annotated bibliography is included. (46 references) (LET)

Compares and contrasts the multiple voices of children engaging in "group work" in a third-grade and a fifth/sixth-grade class. Highlights developmental and contextual issues that may be important to teachers considering students' needs and interests in relation to language arts learning in groups. Presents a playlet constructed from students'…

Describes the development of a writing course that facilitates the development of students' writing skills at the same time it provides an opportunity for them to learn about the construction of gender through language. Combines the study of revision with that of "re-vision," as feminists use the term. (RS)

Describes the development of a set of modules using HyperCard for basic library skills instruction that is primarily oriented to secondary and postsecondary school library users. A research study on student searching strategies and cooperative learning is described, and the development of a student workbook on developing HyperCard stacks is…

Reviews studies of psychosocial variables that maximize outcomes in peer tutoring programs. Considers research on tutoring behaviors and their relation to outcomes; effective tutorial instruction methods; expectations and attributions in tutoring settings; tutorial roles and student pairings; and cooperative learning formats. Makes recommendations…

Discusses a course on shared-document writing in which students indicate that they value the time allowed to coordinate groups and to understand and complete assignments. Asserts that structuring the course necessitates assigning work relating to a single topic and providing choices, including a voice in group formation and evaluation. (PRA)

The debate over how to educate gifted children reflects a larger conflict in American education: equity versus excellence. Many teachers see gifted programs as a challenge to their competence; others consider cooperative learning as a threat to the education of gifted students. (IAH)

The incarcerated must overcome prejudices against "others" to achieve self-actualization and social adjustment. A curriculum employing collaborative learning, problem solving, and material from literature and film teaches critical thinking for making healthy and successful decisions. (SK)

Maintains that business writing students need to be prepared for the collaborative work and writing they will face in the workplace. Explores ethical problems with the collaborative approach in the classroom. Describes practical solutions to those problems. (SR)

Discusses the positive effects of cooperative learning on students' academic achievement, attitudes toward each other, and social and affective development. Describes two cooperative learning techniques with broad utility and adaptability: the jigsaw strategy and student teams achievement division. (SV)

Outlines the historical development of collaborative pedagogies in the United States of the 1920s, especially as influenced by the progressive educator John Dewey. Examines two key models, the Project Method and the Dalton Plan. Shows how proponents of these plans succeeded and how they failed. (HB)