This paper discusses how museums, adventure programs, and discovery activities can become an intrinsically differentiated gifted curriculum for gifted learners. Museums and adventure programs are a forum for meaningful learning activities. The contextual characteristics of effectively designed settings for learning activities can, if the…

Visualizing during reading, choosing just-right books, using a table of contents, and peer editing are strategies used by skilled readers and writers. This book contends that there is no better way to teach them than through minilessons. Minilessons provide strategic, focused instructions that children can put to immediate use. The book offers the…

School psychologists face the challenge of completing standardized, multiple choice tests for professional development in order to meet the competency standards set by organizations and regulatory agencies. Research has indicted that adequate preparation in test-taking skills can significantly improve attitudes toward test taking and actual…

Connectionist models apply various mathematical rules within neural network computer simulations in an effort, among other things, to mimic and describe human memory associations and learning. Learning involves the interaction of information provided by instruction with existing information already in the learner's memory (Ausubel, 1968; Bruner,…

This paper describes one approach to implementing cooperative learning in mathematics classes virtually 100% of the time. By describing this maximum approach, it is hoped that teachers will be encouraged to try cooperative learning at least part of the time in their classrooms. Cooperative learning activities help identify widespread student…

Noting that learning to read and learning to write are closely linked, this paper asks why there are sometimes readers who cannot write and writers who cannot read. The paper advocates taking a closer look at the reading and writing relationship to answer the question and provide strategies for competent literacy instruction in all areas. It…

This study examined the potential of a hypermedia-based expert tool to scaffold 66 regular education sixth graders engaged in a problem-based learning (PBL) program. Participants completed "Alien Rescue," a hypermedia PBL environment on the solar system. The tool under investigation offered students interactive video of an expert…

This study characterizes the inscriptional practices demonstrated by 7th graders, particularly their use of data tables and graphs, in an inquiry-based learning environment. Drawing on a naturalistic approach, we examined two seventh grade classes during an eight-month instructional unit that emphasized water quality and relevant concepts. We…

This bulletin outlines the reading and mathematics improvement goals for the Washington public schools. In 1998, the Washington legislature required that school districts establish 3-year reading improvement performance goals for elementary schools to be achieved at the end of the 2000-01 school year. Additional improvement goals were adopted by…

This book provides a practical classroom guide to unlocking the treasures of informational texts. It also aims to demonstrate that reading and writing nonfiction can overcome the gender gap, allowing girls and boys to share interests in any subject from bugs and magnets to gardens and cake baking. It explains the use of a range of instructional…

Grammar study needs to be functional. Learners need to have a sense of how knowledge of grammar can help them communicate more effectively, both orally and in writing. The focus of grammar instruction is shifting from repetition and rote drills, memorizing parts of speech, and diagramming to develop an awareness of language in general and how it…

This paper reports a study involving the construction and validation of a learning environment questionnaire that was used by both kindergarten students and their parents. Although the questionnaires were validated for use with five- and six-year old kindergarten students, the same format was used for both parents and students. Prior learning…

This study examines the types, uses, and roles of science assessment in a bilingual/biliterate (Spanish/English) elementary classroom in the Honduras during one unit of science instruction. Focus is placed on how one teacher used assessment to a) inform practice; b) evaluate student learning; and c) modify curricula and teaching strategies to meet…

The purpose of providing guidance for senior high school students is to promote learning, increase the opportunity of entering into universities, and to assist in choosing a proper path by facilitating their self-understanding. This paper describes research carried out in five areas: (1) the revision of the "Scale of Learning Strategies of…

This ethnographic study was designed to gain a better understanding of the effects of student choice in Project-Based Learning (PBL) on achievement. Data for the study came from personal interviews with 10 predominantly female teachers who were currently involved in PBL with their students. Each teacher had at least 2 years of teaching experience,…