Describes an art lesson for high school seniors in an intermediate oil painting class. Explains that the teacher set up a still life with a ladder, easel, and a stool with a white background to capture the shadows. States that the students painted their still life in oil. (CMK)

Describes a mentoring program between an elementary school and a corporation that connects fifth and sixth grade students with adults who exchange email messages at least once a week to improve students' writing skills. Discusses benefits to students and offers suggestions for starting an electronic mentoring program. (LRW)

Presents a lesson plan that can be utilized within an U.S. history survey course. Introduces students to oral history and unusual primary sources, specifically narratives of a senior citizen. Includes a description of the procedure, sample interview questions, and suggestions for conducting an oral history interview. (CMK)

This study of 90 academically gifted 12th graders found positive relationships among actual leadership, past leadership, and leadership skills; between peer and teacher rankings of leadership; and between IQ and leadership skills. Males scored significantly higher than females on past leadership behavior and task orientation leadership style. (CR)

Addresses three issues in developing the communication abilities of students with hearing impairments: (1) teaching the six primary discourse functions (narration, explanation, contrast-comparison, instruction giving, persuasion, and negotiation); (2) tensions between time needed for language learning and covering curriculum content; and (3)…

Two special educators comment on an article in the same issue by Joe Reichle entitled "Communication Intervention with Persons Who Have Several Disabilities." Siegel-Causey stresses the implications of advances in augmentative and alternative communication and training for broader use of existing communication skills. Mirenda supports combining…

South African experiments with an intervention in university chemistry instruction are critiqued for their poor descriptions of the method, problems with research methodology and data, reliability and validity issues, and assumptions made about application of the intervention. The intervention, Academic Support Programs (ASP), taught…

Describes a survey at the University of Wyoming in which faculty and academic professionals were asked how they acquire information and how they require or encourage students to access and use information. Highlights include characteristics and roles of faculty who use technology; and who has responsibility for developing students' information…

Examines the concept of professional development for librarians. Topics include lifelong learning; continuing education to learn new techniques and to develop special skills; conferences, workshops, institutes, and seminars; transfer of training; adult learning; and an example of an institute for professional development. (LRW)

Argues that conference attendees must approach their training with preplanning and flexibility in order to maximize the experience. Presents guidelines for successful conference attendance, including fitting the conference into a personal training plan, anticipating conference offerings, minimizing registration problems, planning attendance…

Discusses the strategies and structures necessary for fostering social competence in all children, especially those at risk of academic or social failure. Discusses strategies for assessing and understanding social skills problems, teaching social skills, and preferred practices for achieving generalized responding. Also provides guidelines for…

Educational gymnastics uses a problem-solving approach to accommodate multiple correct solutions to open-ended movement problems in gymnastics. A four-stage framework is outlined to help teachers systematically increase and decrease task difficulty in educational gymnastics. Answers to common questions about educational gymnastics are provided.…

Presents a lesson plan designed for high school juniors about the U.S. conservatist movement in the 1920s and 1980s. Explains that the students learn about comparative analysis during this lesson. Focuses on the development of conservatism and the role of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Includes background information and a handout. (CMK)

Discusses how teachers can include their students in classroom management by building a teacher-student partnership in the classroom. Explains that an increased role for students will enable them to practice their citizenship skills, improve instruction, and instill order in the classroom. Addresses how to expand the students/teacher roles. (CMK)

Describes Kodaly-based music programs. Focuses on three problems with this instruction method: (1) when one or more beliefs are focused upon to the detriment of the program as a whole; (2) the Kodaly program was created in a different culture and time; and (3) the program's emphasis on specific musical skills is limiting. (CMK)