The development and validation of professional development resource materials for teachers by the National Council on Measurement in Education and associated professional groups is described. The developed module contains a context-orienting vignette, instruction, practice exercises, hands-on experiences, small group topics, and homework problems.…

This article describes what happened when Palm Pilots were given to 28 sixth-graders, 6 with special needs. Students preferred using the Palm Pilot to a traditional notebook for recording assignments and used the Palm Pilots to access spelling lists and to check math and spelling. (Contains references.) (CR)

Describes a hybrid instructional format designed to improve large lecture courses that couples online homework with in-class, active learning exercises. Indicates that most students felt that student-instructor interaction was better than in traditional courses and that online homework aided time management and learning. Suggests that online…

Suggested is a format for sequencing instructional activities during the typical elementary school mathematics period to elicit better teaching and more learning. To illustrate each component of the format, a lesson on fractions appropriate for fourth or fifth grade is outlined. (CW)

This article explains four teacher-developed mnemonic learning strategies--one for learning the steps of long division, one to teach decision making, one for developing homework skills, and one for preparing and giving a speech. (DB)

This survey examined experiences and beliefs regarding homework of primary-grade children (n=809), of whom 91 were in resource room programs and 17 in special education classrooms. Overall, results indicated that children in the resource rooms were experiencing the greatest amount of difficulty in doing homework and had acquired the most negative…

Discusses the use of mathematics notebooks to help students organize homework, projects, and notes. Contains the notebook assignment description given to students, notebook table of contents, and notebook grading sheet. (MKR)

Argues that students will accept and even learn from homework provided that its design takes into consideration students' learning styles and study skills. Describes an effort at an all-boys high school in Brooklyn, New York, to tailor class instruction and homework to results obtained from a Learning Styles Inventory. (BCY)

Ways are outlined to help students read their textbooks and do homework exercises effectively, know when they really understand the material, pinpoint what they do not understand, and know when they need help. Suggestions are offered for incorporating student training and practice in study strategies. A sample worksheet is appended. (25…

Sixty-five pairs of teachers and parents of elementary and secondary school learning-disabled students completed the Homework Problem Checklist (HPC). The HPC demonstrated a moderate level of interrater reliability. Acceptable levels of internal consistency were reported for both teacher and parent ratings. (JDD)

A recent study of schooling in five nations with well-developed educational systems (Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, and Japan) reveals that most of them share important characteristics not generally found in American schools. Results suggest that U.S. elementary educators should reconfigure school-year length, vacation time, and the pace of…

Described are two methods of classroom management that attempt to optimize the first few moments of the class period. One method focuses on using the prior day's homework, and the other uses new problems presented to the students to work on as they enter the classroom. (MDH)

This article provides a framework for social skills homework in special education; an example of a social skills assignment; and a continuum for the involvement of parents, teachers, peers, and others in the homework process. Practicing social skills in natural settings is felt to assist in generalization and maintenance. (JDD)

One law school professor's experience with use of out-of-class assignments similar to those actually faced in legal practice as a teaching tool and an alternative to final examinations is described. Students responded well to the method, finding it effective, less stressful, and a legitimate evaluation tool; and the professor found it helped in…

A study investigated the effect of reward on sixth graders' self-correction inaccuracy and monitored the effect of improved self-correction on mathematics homework achievement. There was a low baseline rate of student self-correction inaccuracy. Offering a reward for improved accuracy caused the rate of inaccuracy to decrease significantly.…