Even though medieval manuscripts represent the most voluminous surviving artifact from the Middle Ages, the very nature of this resource presents challenges for usage. In an effort to preserve medieval manuscripts and to create broader and more economical access to their contents, many libraries have in recent decades sought to provide filmed…

Despite suggestions for incorporating students' experiences into school math lessons, mathematics education seems to be the last bastion of formalism. This paper reports on a sociocultural study of the use of students' personal experiences in early childhood elementary mathematics lessons. This study documents the use of students' personal…

This case study traces the evolution of curriculum-related educational reforms in California, concentrating on those that have influenced mathematics and science. These reform efforts are examined in the framework of the state's political and policy context. Data came from interviews, a synthesis of the research literature, and newspaper accounts…

A comparative study examined student performance attributed to the mode of literature instruction to determine the validity of increasing auditory-based learning activities in the middle school language arts classroom. Two classes of identified low-achieving students in a middle school reading program participated and were alternately assigned to…

This report discusses the findings of a survey of the 50 states that investigated how state graduation requirements apply to students with limited English proficiency (LEP) and whether students with LEP receive a standard diploma upon completion of their studies or some type of modified exit document. Results found a minimum graduation requirement…

The Carver County Library System (Chaska, Minnesota) conducted a project to demonstrate adult educational teamwork between libraries and literacy agents in the Carver-Scott two county area. The project, "National Issues Forums (NIF) for the New Reader," extended educational opportunities that encouraged new adult readers and the public…

The National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association recently released language arts standards. California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) has been engaged in collaborative projects with local school districts in two counties (Los Angeles and Orange). This paper highlights CSULB's efforts with language arts…

This book poses fundamental questions about the role of teachers in society. Chapter 1, "Contentious Behaviors," presents four hypothetical cases of teacher behavior (an affair, bare facts, world views in collision, and crossing boundaries). It also discusses the case of trouble, the normative base, teacher role, social drama, a national…

An action research project described a program for improving prerequisite reading skills. The targeted population included students in a special education kindergarten and an at-risk first grade from declining urban schools located in a medium sized Midwestern city; and students in an at-risk prekindergarten program from a nearby middle class…

This book for elementary school teachers presents a rationale for developing a global perspective, providing sample lesson plans and a curriculum resource guide. Chapter 1, "Promoting a Global Perspective in Elementary Education" (Ronald G. Midkiff), uses stories from one teacher's global experiences to offer a rationale for promoting…

This module, which may be used as the basis for a workshop or as a special topic unit in adult basic education or English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) courses, discusses children's changing roles. It is designed to help parents to support their children's roles--becoming bicultural, being learners, and creating oneself. The module contains the…

The Copernicus Project is a multi-district effort designed to incorporate technology, specifically the laptop computer, into the instructional and learning process of the public schools. Participants included six school districts in Washington state, the Toshiba and Microsoft Corporations, and parents. The project called for a 1 to 1…

This final performance report for the St. Charles Public Library and Literacy Volunteers of America-Fox Valley literacy project begins with a section that provides quantitative data. The next section presents a summary of activities during 1993 based the following project goals and related objectives: (1) increase visibility to attract students…

This booklet presents summaries of the 35 projects funded by the National Institute for Literacy in 1992. Each summary provides the project's purpose, findings, products, and contact person with address and telephone number. These projects are included: Adult Literacy in the United States; Cognitive Skills-Based Instruction and Assessment; Hmong…

This document reports on development of a comprehensive system for measuring the ongoing development of children with disabilities from birth to age 8. A multi-step process was used to identify a set of general growth outcomes for children in this age range and to begin formulating individualized indicators of growth and development, as well as…