Examined the development of teaching skills in older siblings responsible for teaching their younger siblings to become competent members of their culture among children from a Zinacantec Maya village in Chiapas, Mexico. Found that by age 4, children took responsibility for initiating teaching situations with their younger siblings, and by 8,…

Studied whether children's achievement strategies predict the development of their reading and mathematics skills during the first school year or whether these skills predict changes in their achievement strategies. Findings for 105 Finnish first graders show that maladaptive strategies hamper improvement in reading and mathematics; skills did not…

Presents suggestions for new music teachers to apply in order to have successful ensemble rehearsals. States that understanding the score is very important, while planning for the rehearsals is also essential. Offers techniques to help with the rehearsals, such as keeping the pace quick and slowing down difficult passages. (CMK)

Discusses various art movements that include examples of artworks with movement, such as Romantic, Classic, Rococo, and Art Nouveau. Addresses ways in which students can learn to incorporate movement into their own works of art. Includes examples of artists who included movement into their artworks. (CMK)

Describes a year-long team-taught course in which students viewed the sources and consequences of inequality from the perspectives of sociology, English, and art. Explains that the first quarter focused on identity issues, the second on minority experiences, and the third on a video project addressing diversity at the campus or local level. (DAJ)

Discusses how to improve the listening skills of music students and addresses the importance of enabling students to listen. Explores the various issues that can be addressed when helping students focus on their skills. Provides a list of tips for helping ensemble students become more focused listeners. (CMK)

Discusses why students who play musical instruments should participate in a chamber music ensemble. Provides rationale for using small ensembles in the high school band curriculum. Focuses on the topic of scheduling, illustrating how to insert small ensembles into the lesson schedule, and how to set up a new schedule. (CMK)

Describes how to teach elementary students about vocal improvisation using the Kodaly-based approach. Discusses the three steps involved in this technique: (1) develop familiar singing patterns; (2) use a question and answer format; and (3) begin improvisation. Includes examples of solfege patterns and a vocal question and answer. (CMK)

Discussion of knowledge management focuses on a case study of an organizational research department that began implementing information management initiatives. Highlights include the role of the department, including organizing and disseminating different types of information; identifying stakeholders; upgrading skills; communications to all…

Teaching the geography of the United States to gifted elementary-level children in a way that challenges preconceived ideas about people and places is the focus of this article. Detailed student instruction is described, including thinking and writing activities that enable students to compare preconceived notions and reality. (CR)

Discusses three electronic conferencing tools that apprentice novice learners and encourage them to interact and grapple with alternative perspectives. Technical details of each tool are described, along with 1 instance where all 3 technologies were united, resulting in a highly interactive conversation shared by over 30 people at 4 different…

Research reveals that successful problem solvers must possess comprehensive knowledge, and more importantly, have appropriate knowledge organization and understanding. A new taxonomy of medical problems is recommended, and it is suggested that the traditional hypothetico-deductive strategy for problem-based learning be replaced by scheme-driven…

A study of 4 children with autism and 12 typical children (ages 5-8) investigated the effectiveness of a social skills program. Typical peers were provided disability information and training in behavior management strategies along with social skills training. Results showed increased frequency and duration of interactions for all children.…

Argues that human services needs its professional core broadened to include a liberal curriculum. Explores the idea of the human services generalist and how many of the skills needed in human services are achieved through a liberal (general) curriculum, which emphasizes communication skills, critical thinking skills, adaptive skills, and more.…

Results from a study of the development of word-decoding skills in 60 8-year-old and 60 10-year-old children are consistent with models suggesting that children become proficient in phonological decoding first, and then shift gradually to a more direct orthographic-decoding strategy. (SLD)