Describes the investigation of South African English-as-a-Second-Language high school students perceptions of classroom activities in terms of their feelings toward the activities as well as their value in current and future learning. Using questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observations, results found that the learners' perceptions often…

Five teachers of English as a Second Language describe activities used in their classrooms, including topical student journals in an intensive language course; current events journals; postcard-writing to promote authentic, communicative expression; student-designed bumper stickers; and a fashion show to teach adjective use. (MSE)

Reviews two long-term case studies examining the art produced by two artistically gifted Down Syndrome patients. Their work shows a unique personal style characterized by flat, nonperspective compositions, canonical and mixed profile shapes, and symmetry. Both artists depict androgynous persons in their untutored drawings. Includes drawing samples…

Mapping is a means of experiencing a community's features that engages the mapmaker. Getting to know the community by drawing maps and learning about past and present inhabitants was the methodology for introducing local content into the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classroom. This model for mapping was used with adult and high school ESL…

The Health Science and Technology Academy (HSTA), a partnership between West Virginia University and primarily rural communities in West Virginia, provides after-school science clubs for financially disadvantaged and minority students and encourages their interests in science, technology, and health science careers. Science teachers participating…

Discusses how actual or planned travel experiences can form the basis for constructing realistic, challenging, and interesting problem-solving tasks for classroom use. Provides examples of how teachers and students can create travel problems for use in the classroom. The travel-problem concept is adaptable to any elementary, secondary, or…

Describes Team Science, a child-centered, activity-based science program for middle school students that evolved over a 25-year period. Three key components for success include educational philosophy, teaching and modeling respect, and a quality science program. Philosophy stresses maintaining natural curiosity and developing skills for lifelong…

Investigates the sincerity and validity of uptake as a measure of language learning by comparing the words students report they have learned after completing a listening task with the words they score correctly on a translation test. Results indicate that whereas uptake may have construct validity, its concurrent validity is uncertain. (16…

Readers' theater engages students in reading and writing activities that offer both affective and cognitive rewards. Students can develop their own scripts that introduce books, replacing the traditional book report with creative participation and active peer recommendation. Appendices provide two sample scripts. (AEF)

Discusses students' use of multiple sources for research and describes an automated system, "Super TOM Jr.," designed for middle and junior high school students, that includes citations, indexes, and full text of magazine and newspaper articles and selected reference sources. Research activities relating to Memorial Day and World War II…

Explores the possibilities of students using the computer as an invention tool as part of their second-language learning. Students studying English as a second language created associative poems and prose using computer-based tools; they were then asked to reflect upon the relationship between the creative process in which they engaged and the…

Argues that literature-based social studies provide personal perspectives for examining essential social studies concepts and generalizations. Includes lesson sequences utilizing trade books to teach about poverty, hope, and involuntary relocation for primary, middle, and secondary school students. Briefly describes the books mentioned and…

Provides a more in-depth look at selected historical fiction from the "1995 Notable Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies." Includes learning activities for middle school students constructed around several of the books. The historical works address diverse subjects such as the African American experience and World War II. (MJP)

Examines the relationship between vocal pitch accuracy and gender, grade level, and the presence or absence of an accompanying unison voice. Reveals no significant differences between unison or individual singing or for gender. Fourth and fifth graders exhibited significant differences. (MJP)

Reiterates the need for music educators to continually and consistently generate support for their program. Recommends maintaining active and valuable relationships with administrators and guidance counselors. Argues for the inclusion of nonperformance music courses in the curriculum. Includes a checklist of activities designed to create support.…