Recommends that economics instruction begin a synthesizing process early by connecting discussion of the production possibilities curve and the supply curve. Suggests that linking the two is logical for conveying integrated economic thinking to beginning students. Argues that such a link makes it easier to discuss the competitive norm. (DK)

Discusses the use of invented spelling to help kindergarten students learn to spell. It provides a natural foundation for building spelling abilities by making students think about words and generate new knowledge. Activities are suggested and guidelines are presented for a developmentally sensitive spelling program. (SM)

Elementary teacher describes a two-week project which involved using cooperative learning to teach sixth graders about averages. Cooperative groups worked to find the daily average of a variety of items. Students had real-world examples of averaging to replace standard textbook drill and practice. (SM)

Presents creative ways for teachers to interest students in learning history by encouraging a feel for the context and interrelationships of events. Names, dates, and events are interspersed with opportunities for students to experience history through their own lives (e.g. oral histories, personal scrapbooks, family photographs, and household…

Examines effect of teaching approaches on students' responses to three picture books. Finds that students in a "literary analysis" group focused on identification of literary elements; students in a "literary experience" group indicated more involvement in the story world; and students who did not discuss the stories were more…

Offers four practical ideas for classroom use within the field of literacy education: (1) "Press Conference: A Strategy for Integrating Reading with Writing"; (2) "Expressing Ethnic Identity through Brown-Bag Big Books"; (3) "Beanstalk Heroes: Jack and Jim in an Integrated Primary Curriculum"; and (4) "Reading the World around Us." (PRA)

Relates how student-made questions inspired at-risk students to get involved with an assigned text. States that the students became engaged in literature and no longer needed the teacher to pose questions or set agendas. (PRA)

Semantic categorization and concept formation models were used as the bases for intervention with adolescents with language-learning disabilities. The approach embraced such teaching procedures as collaboration, holism, student centeredness, guided questioning and scaffolding, and semantic word webbing. The use of cognitive-linguistic training…

A five-session class called "Parenting Bright Children" was designed to help parents of school-aged children assist in their children's education. The class involved discussions of learning theory and practice, as well as hands-on applications of the theory presented. Topics discussed in the class included creativity, perfectionism, learning…

Given the lack of guidance for teachers regarding the role of explicit grammar instruction in the proficiency-oriented classroom, an experiment investigated how well students are able to read, learn, and use targeted grammar structures on their own. Results suggest they can learn certain kinds of linguistic structures anonymously, but others…

The current state of information retrieval (IR) evaluation is reviewed with criticisms directed at the available test collections and the research and evaluation methodologies used, including precision and recall rates for online searches and laboratory tests not including real users. Automatic text retrieval systems are also discussed. (32…

Various methods for calculating and presenting results of information retrieval (IR) evaluation research are discussed, with illustrations from recent laboratory results. Highlights include measures for calculating recall and precision, user needs for high or low level of recall, and comparisons of Boolean and ranked output retrieval. (22…

Discussion of cultural barriers in information systems focuses on results of a study at a large private research organization in Austria that was conducted to identify major problem areas and to develop a framework for identifying and evaluating possible solutions. User, technical, and cost factors for evaluating options are considered. (30…

British researchers surveyed secondary schools to examine how they handled alcohol education, noting the use of personal and social education strategies and examining which commercial resources were the most popular. The article discusses the range of responses and suggests areas to address in curriculum planning. (SM)

Four elementary teachers present earth-friendly ideas to help students explore nature: creating suncatchers out of pressable outdoor items; making and filling nature explorer kits; producing ecology booklets with covers; filling shoeboxes with natural materials to make rhythm instruments; and making crayon rubbings of outdoor items. (SM)