Bakhtin's notion of "carnival," which includes participation of all; free contact; playful, familiar relation to the world; and profanation, was applied to a third-grade writing workshop. The analysis highlighted three themes: student voice and self-expression, teacher's role and responsibility, and workshops as communities for writing…

In one approach to French second-language instruction, students use free writing assignments to express themselves in their newly learned second language. The primary objective is to encourage students to use the language in a nonthreatening context; it also offers the teacher insights into student problems and needs. (MSE)

Discusses issues related to the writing of novels, the construction of meaning by readers, and generally about the act of writing from the first person point of view. Outlines the elements of strong fiction. (HB)

Congressional compromises on the issue of academic freedom and artistic expression in the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) appropriations controversy have already ceded valuable ground. The best protection for democracy is an unregulated market in expression, a fundamental commitment to intellectual freedom. (MSE)

The president of Nassau Community College (New York) discusses the institution's resistance to strong off-campus pressures to stop production of a controversial play. Pressure came through letters and telephone calls from community members, statements by local and state officials, local media editorials, and interference in adoption of a school…

A procedure enabling 19 adolescents/adults with profound mental retardation to express food and drink preferences was evaluated. Results indicated that active choice making occurred, and caregiver opinion was not predictive of participant preferences. Choices made using the procedure were similar to choices made when less structured opportunities…

Examined psychological effects of Tai Chi class for fourth to sixth graders. After pretesting, randomly assigned students to experimental group of 12-week Tai Chi program or comparison group following usual school routines. Found that experimental group did not demonstrate improved perceived self-competence, visual-motor integration, or reduced…

Various mental-health professionals use drawings and other art in therapy, but relatively little has been written on the ethics surrounding this technique. Should artwork be viewed as equivalent to verbal communication? A variety of ethical issues including confidentiality, documentation, ownership, research, publication, and display of work are…

Examines the Mandala (circular) drawings of elderly patients diagnosed with dementia in order to explore the drawings' role in artmaking and patients' internal processes. Categorized drawings using the MARI Card Test (a projective psychological instrument). Describes the six MARI stages drawn most frequently and colors used most often. (RJM)

Describes how art therapy can be used with an elderly population experiencing a wide range of cognitive impairments. Claims that the evocative nature of art allows older adults with dementia to become expressive and bypass some of their cognitive deficits. Focuses on evaluation, nonverbal communication, sensory exploration, and self-reflective…

The conjunction of poetry therapy and family social work is briefly discussed with respect to philosophical, theoretical, and professional issues. Noting the scope of poetry therapy, fourteen techniques applied to family therapy are examined. The limitations of poetry therapy and new directions for practice and research are noted. (KW)

In an era where students design web sites and integrate video, graphics, and animation into their presentations, art is becoming the new literacy. Art education promotes self-expression, cognitive and attitudinal improvement, multicultural awareness, and personal growth. Teachers should re-name art "business communication" and get…

This study describes the development of a self-report measure of functional humor in relationships. People were asked to report on their own and their partner's use of humor in the marriage. The Relational Humor Inventory proved to be a useful instrument for tapping important positive and negative relationship behaviors. (Contains 30 references, 4…

Uses and advantages to using letter-writing techniques within a therapeutic context of counseling adolescents are examined. A theoretical framework for letter writing is discussed. An overview and examples of ways to apply letter writing when counseling adolescents is presented. Finally, purposes and benefits to using different types of letters…

Explores invented notation and the role it plays in the compositional process of children. Identifies the various areas of research on this topic and discusses the effects computer technology has on children as they notate their musical ideas. Reveals the educational implications of invented notation that enable students opportunities for…