Discusses various issues concerning reading literature in the elementary classroom, under the following section heads: "Adding to Your Alphabet,""Working with the Transitional Reader,""Reading Aloud to the Very Young,""Leading to Lively Conversation," and "Enriching the Teaching of Science." (TB)

Introductory exploration of two usenet newsgroups focused on political discussions. The goal is to answer questions regarding issues such as who is participating in these online discussions and whether the online groups resemble more traditional discussion networks. (Author)

Presents results obtained from using small groups and cooperative learning in the discussion sessions of large lecture classes in the mathematical sciences. Provides data indicating where this approach worked well and where additional changes were needed. (Author/ASK)

Describes how online communication puts emphasis on students' comprehension and knowledge of argumentation and thus on how to interact with ideas and each other in a meaningful way. Asserts that they may not be equipped with such skills, and that faculty may not have sufficient skills in monitoring discussions or creating productive communities of…

Discusses the process of selecting classroom cases in a 300-level business communication course. Outlines five specific criteria for a case to be workable. Describes that cases should be applicable to all students in the class, be sufficiently complex situations, accommodate multiple solutions, be manageable within portions of one or more class…

Discusses how defining key terms in context helps students understand and retain concepts. Considers how implementing small-group discussion dramatically changed the classroom dynamics and involved more students in the discovery process. Finds that in small peer groups, students are more inclined to ask questions and help each other clarify their…

This article examines some of the characteristics of a person who is morally well developed. Two of the commonly held theories of moral development are discussed, along with the possible moral problems of gifted adolescents. Finally, ways that educators can help gifted adolescents develop their full potential are provided. (Contains references.)…

Focus group discussions offer participants time to discuss particular topics. This article discusses some results of several graduate students' attempts to implement focus group research. After a brief review of literature reflecting the use of focus groups and recommendations for their use, the author reports their reactions and their…

This article operationally defines effective student class participation. Optimum class management and effectiveness depends on students being actively engaged, supportive of each other, and civil in their exchanges. Examples of student behaviors to avoid are also discussed. Desired student classroom behavior is argued to be enhanced by good…

This article reports and discusses the findings of an initial inquiry into secondary school students' comprehension strategy use during small-group, peer-led discussions of literary text. One classroom of ninth-grade English students in the midwestern United States participated in the inquiry. Data consisted of the verbatim transcripts of four…

Reflection is a powerful means to involve readers actively in gaining new insights about texts and themselves as readers. This article relates the story of three fifth-grade girls engaged in metacognitive inquiry within a classroom book club group. The use of exploratory talk and reflection illustrate how the girls constructed meaning and deepened…

Group discussion allows students to learn how to "talk to someone." Through group discussion, students can acquire or refine a broad range of attributes, from basic oratory skills to a more sophisticated development of communicative competence to embracing and valuing dialogic interchange and reflexivity. In this article, the author explains how…

Objective: To gain practice with public speaking. Type of speech: Impromptu. Point value: 5% of course grade. Requirements: (a) References: 0; (b) Length: 1-2 minutes; (c) Visual aid: No; (d) Outline: No; (e) Prerequisite reading: None; (f) Additional requirements: None. This assignment offers students an opportunity to speak on a familiar (and…

This paper examines the effectiveness of routinizing lexical phrases to a group of second language learners. A group of proficiency class students were drilled or routinized with semi-fixed and fixed phrases which are commonly used in problem-solving group discussion. Basic frequency counts and interview were carried out to see improvement in…

This study examined factors that might impact student knowledge sharing within virtual teams through online discussion boards. These factors included: trust, mutual influence, conflict, leadership, and cohesion. A path model was developed to determine whether relationships exist among knowledge sharing from asynchronous group discussion and the…