Demonstrates how reading, and creative thinking can increase literacy and create historical empathy in a sixth-grade class. The centerpiece of the class on ancient civilizations is an adaptation of "Antigone," by Sophocles. Recommends the use of dramatic literature because of its ability to engage and transform students' thinking. (MJP)

Provides specific and useful guidelines for utilizing learning styles to increase instructional effectiveness during choral rehearsal. Broadly identifies students as either "analytical" (inductive reasoning) or "global" (deductive reasoning). Includes a chart containing specific rehearsal activities designed to interest each group. (MJP)

A study involving 28 fourth-graders in a reform mathematics classroom, 3 with learning disabilities, investigated changes in teacher and student discourse over nine-weeks. Clear patterns of change in teacher and student discourse occurred. Nonetheless, intentional efforts to include target students in whole-class discussions yielded instructional…

This study examined the effects of an intervention program to improve the quality of daily interaction between six congenitally deaf-blind children and their 14 educators (teachers, caregivers, and mothers). With video analysis as the most important tool, the interaction coaches trained the educators to recognize the children's signals and attune…

Introduces this theme issue's articles, which provide a variety of frameworks for understanding and action in relation to the crisis in child and adolescent mental health. Further emphasizes the challenge to provide resources for all children and to provide ideas for the integration of information between education and mental health professionals.…

Identifies barriers to the improved effectiveness of adjunct faculty teaching of adult learners. Addresses three categories of skills and attributes essential for the adult educator: interpersonal skills, instructional planning skills, and teaching and learning transaction skills. Considers on-the-job training, in-service training, and graduate…

Contends that teaching interpretation within art criticism is probably the most difficult aspect of teaching criticism. Provides suggestions and 17 principles to guide art teachers in engaging their students interpretive dialog about works of art and to provide criteria for assessing their interpretations. (CFR)

Describes a study that examined high-income and low-income middle schoolers' perceptions of teachers. Interviews indicated that social class was important in both groups' thinking. Low-income students were very attuned to teachers' attitudes toward them, and school was stressful for them as they were very much aware of their subordinate standing…

Maintains that much of the high school curriculum, particularly in social studies, contains innumerable facts that have no use except to pass school tests. Reviews research on effective instruction as applied to social studies. Includes 17 characteristics of highly engaging social studies teaching and learning. (ACM)

A study examined a national sample of over 20,000 college students, decided and undecided on a career, on 9 variables: persistence, college grades, full-time versus part-time enrollment, housing arrangement, honors participation, student-student academic involvement, student-student social involvement, leadership/political involvement, and…

Describes a unique approach to teacher education that involved teaching students within a multidisciplinary, collaborative, student-centered learning community. Interviews with students and faculty provided information on the transitional issues they experienced in the process of unlearning old conceptions and imagining new ways to think about…

If schools are to value minority students and support their academic success and cultural integrity, reformers must examine the knowledge of successful culturally relevant teachers of students of color. The leadership and example of such teachers is generally missing in current educational reform. The paper presents two restructuring schools'…

A teacher describes how the staff at his junior high school, and particularly his ninth-grade team, worked on continuous improvement in three ways: restructuring the working roles and relationships among staff; restructuring the working roles and relationships between staff and students; and merging systemic advancements and education philosophy…

Argues that educators have not developed curriculum and instruction models tailored to lower-achieving students. Discusses characteristics of lower-achieving students and to teaching methods and instructional materials. Presents suggestions for making history and social studies more relevant for these students. (CFR)

Asserts that conference teaching techniques foster critical thinking skills. Describes conference-style learning and discusses its use in the college psychology classroom. Concludes that the approach helps avoid the sense of struggle and alienation that can arise between teachers and students in the traditional classroom. (CFR)