Presents simple outdoor activities to show students some characteristics of grasses. (PR)

Explains the scanning, tunneling microscope and its use in high school science instruction. (PR)

Describes a resource packet that utilizes a four-point approach to make environmental action concerning land use more accessible to teachers. The points are construct a map of the area under consideration; assess the impact of historical development, natural cycles, mining, and eco-tourism on the problem; research land use options; and encourage…

To examine sexuality education in Flanders, teachers and principals were surveyed at 400 secondary schools. Respondents had positive attitudes toward school-based sexuality education, but time devoted to it was too restricted. The teaching strategies were not effective enough to change attitudes and behaviors regarding contraception and AIDS…

In the Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers program, trained assessors observe teacher candidates in their assigned teaching environments and determine their instructional effectiveness. The article highlights the program's improvements over its predecessor, noting the need to explore teaching performance as a new…

This article examines how psychometric models based on certain assumptions have come to be used counterproductively by many practitioners in ways that limit the kinds of conclusions that can be made. The general problem of the context's influence on performance is discussed, and some implications are drawn. (SLD)

Eight reasons are proposed to support the argument that it should be possible to move toward a consensus about educational evaluation. The eight standards of the American Association of School Administrators are explored as starting points for developing a sound evaluation system and procedures. (SLD)

Presents a case study that determined the traits international students bring to technical training that are most critical and which aspects of instructional design and delivery are affected by those traits. Results indicate that the most critical traits were value differences and language difficulty and that these affected all aspects of…

Discusses an instructional model viewing the role of teachers as gatekeepers or border crossers, with gatekeepers maintaining tight control over learning and border crossers providing students greater freedom to define their own learning experience. Examines the validity of the model in the context of using writing assignments in large lecture…

Discusses the participation of a Pennsylvania Catholic elementary school faculty in an inservice training program designed to improve the school's capacity to meet the needs of its students. Indicates that the program was intended to foster the faculty's Catholic identity as the primary means of addressing problems affecting its students. (MAB)

Defines "normalized school" and claims that faith in the child and courage to see the truth provide a firm foundation for any Montessori school community. Claims that in order for normalization to truly occur, adults in the community must be as concerned with the value and vitality of their own growth as they are for those of their…

This article offers guidelines and suggestions for adapting mathematics instruction when teaching students with learning disabilities in the general classroom. Techniques for teaching computational skills, solving algorithms, and problem solving are offered. General techniques include increasing instructional time, varying group size, and using…

Discusses the application of pragmatic and discoursal principles to second-language acquisition (SLA). After critical examination of more traditionally oriented approaches, the article reanalyzes the process of SLA in an interactively oriented setting and applies the principle of "adjacency pair" to the context of SLA. The principle of…

Discusses the characteristics of a caring school environment, as exemplified by the Montessori method. Stresses the importance of observing the needs of the moment for the very young child as well as the role of encouragement as a nurturing function. (MDM)

Discusses the use of self-directed learning within the framework of shared inquiry. Compares this concept of authentic engagement--whereby students are held responsible for group problem solving and working together to discuss ideas related to difficult texts--to Maria Montessori's focus on independent learning within a prepared environment. (MDM)