Presents three activities to help primary students come up with writing ideas. The first helps students share ideas and see patterns in topics. The second has students discuss topics in groups to determine a variety of potential writing topics. The third has students review their topics and compare them with their classmates' topics. (SM)

Investigated the long-term influence of a longitudinal calculator awareness approach to numbers on British elementary students' mathematical achievements and attitudes. Teacher and student interviews and student test scores from intervention and nonintervention schools indicated that the curriculum had no substantial long-term influence on…

Rigorous evaluations of welfare-to-work programs have had a major impact on the formation of policy in the area of welfare reform, but it is not clear whether the high level of evaluation, especially with regard to randomized experiments, and impact can continue. Evaluators must strive for research methodologies that provide results for policy…

Studies the cultural images and knowledge produced by a Latin American organization in the U.S. south as it plans and produces a Latin American festival. In addition, the complexity of the ethnographic portrayal of the festival is described, with implications drawn for other ethnographic studies. (SLD)

The practices of 191 regular-classroom teachers teaching language-minority children were studied. Findings suggest that teachers typically have not received formal training in second-language learning, that their resources are inadequate, and that they often engage in well-meaning practices that are detrimental to the development of…

Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood (p-ML) and Asymptotically Distribution Free (ADF) estimation methods for estimating dynamic factor model parameters within a covariance structure framework were compared through a Monte Carlo simulation. Both methods appear to give consistent model parameter estimates, but only ADF gives standard errors and chi-square…

Australian nursing students (n=48) identified instances when clinical teachers used humor. Students felt that humor humanized teachers, created a positive environment, made connections, and facilitated clinical learning. Awareness of personal and cultural values regarding humor was important. (SK)

Discusses acquiring knowledge implicitly, versus explicitly, as it relates to learning grammar. Codifies three grammar-teaching methods (traditional grammar, sentence combining, and the functional/inductive approach) by plotting them on a metacognitive model of language skills that examines analyzed knowledge and cognitive control. Shows how this…

Presents an interview with Ruth Beall Heinig, author of "Creative Drama for the Classroom Teacher," about her role as a teacher of creative drama and as a teacher-educator preparing teachers to use creative drama. Describes the development of her career in creative drama. Offers information on books about the subject written by other authors. (CR)

Describes the potential that theater has to exert a positive influence on students' behavior patterns. States that positive educational experiences for African-American children may be achieved through the development of "an alternative frame of reference, positive self-concepts, a Black identity, and a commitment to their people."…

Discusses issues that arise when conducting costs analyses for child language-disorder treatments. Clinicians are urged to recognize the importance of cost-effectiveness studies to maintain control over the integrity of the studies and ensure that responsible decisions are made regarding the development and use of treatments and technologies.…

Discusses issues related to the benefits of tutoring systems and the care needed in the domain of mathematics. Argues for a realistic learning environment in which a tutorial system could yield positive results. Lists some relevant and problematic tutoring systems features. Concludes with some guidelines for intelligent tutoring systems design in…

Develops an alternative to traditional genealogy assignments in order to bring this type of project into line with the increasing trend of blended families, those with stepparents or stepsiblings. Posits that this project allows students from all family backgrounds to gain valuable historical information in a meaningful and nonthreatening context.…

Provides a seven-step procedural guide for developing integrated art-social studies lessons using the discipline-based art education model. Explains each of the steps and includes helpful tips. Asserts that following the seven steps of the model assures meaningful teaching and learning of both art and social studies. (DSK)

There is a need for standardization in the behavioral outcome measures employed in HIV prevention research. This paper reviews the need for a minimum dataset and proposes a candidate dataset that would provide a link between reported sexual behavior and quantitative estimates of risk reduction, thereby facilitating cross-study comparison among…