This document consists of the first five volumes (10 issues) of the serial "Research in the Schools," a nationally refereed journal published by the Mid-South Educational Research Association and the University of Alabama. It publishes original contributions related to research in practice, topical issues in education, methods and…

This document consists of the four issues of a newsletter published during 1998. Typical articles explore topics in literacy education, media, and technology: "Not a Myth but a New Reality: What IALS [International Adult Literacy Survey]-like Tests Measure" (John Comings); "Who Will Train the Teachers?" (Winston Emery);…

This brief presents the case for the reform of assessment systems as an essential component of systemic reform. The scope includes ways to share conceptual understanding among all stakeholders in the educational system, ways to evaluate the impact of systemic reforms in terms of student attainment of relevant goals, and ideas on how assessment can…

Issues in making small-group instruction effective are addressed in this theme issue, which focuses on an approach called Complex Instruction (CI). Developed by Elizabeth Cohen at Stanford University (California), the approach is designed for middle school students in heterogeneous classes. The program is based on four goals to help teachers…

Sharing concerns and interests of New York State educators in the improvement of literacy, this annual journal raises educational issues such as appropriate, effective instruction and assessment for all of New York's children. A central thread found in many of the articles is the importance of authentic or meaningful experiences that invite…

This document consists of the five issues of "Volunteer Voice," the newsletter of a Tacoma, Washington, English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) training project, issued as volume VIII, during the period June 1990-February 1991. The first issue provides a bibliography of recommended books for ESL tutors and teachers on the following topics: general…

When a college conducts an accreditation self-study, it is best to begin by addressing basic philosophical questions about the college's mission and goals. American River College in Sacramento, California, began its process by responding to the following questions: (1) Can we be all things to all people? (2) Does open door mean open curriculum?…

Learning strategies can be defined as behaviors and thoughts in which a learner engages and which are intended to influence the learner's encoding process. Thus, the goal of any particular learning strategy may be to affect the way in which the learner selects, acquires, organizes, or integrates new knowledge. Good teaching includes teaching…

Although the nation's two-year college movement has been largely successful in providing higher education to a broad range of people, new barriers are emerging to the performance of this function. The problem is evident in the fact that increasing numbers of students neither enter nor leave the educational system with the competencies necessary…

This article discusses how to determine the learning style of a child with learning problems and how to use the information to maximize the child's potential. Assessing the child's learning style begins with close observation in a variety of settings, which provides a generalized idea of the child's behavior. This is followed up by categorizing…

This document summarizes five studies that offer insight into the nature of higher-order thinking skills and the most effective methods for teaching them to students. The reviews outline the conclusions, definitions, recommendations, specific methods of teaching, instructional strategies, and programs detailed in the documents themselves.…

The articles in this journal issue explore inventive ways of teaching literature, including the use of works written by Wisconsin residents. The titles of the articles and their authors are as follows: (1) "From Wau-Bun to Door Way" (Richard Boudreau); (2) "The Reading Tree" (Richard Behm); (3) "Manipulating Language: A…

Noting that while collaborative writing is commonplace in the "real" world it is seldom practiced in classrooms, the articles in this focused journal explore the place of collaboration in the writing process and the ways in which collaboration can be fostered in an instructional setting. Following an introduction by the editor, which…

A recognized correlate of student success in science classes is the use of teaching strategies that are learner-centered and goal-oriented. Research has shown that several practices in particular are associated with increased student achievement and with developing scientifically literate students. The focus of this paper is on scientific literacy…

Individuals who wish to become community college presidents should take the following steps to prepare for the presidency: (1) get their doctorate; (2) get into the academic pipeline running from the classroom to the division chair, the dean of instruction, and the presidency; (3) find a good mentor; (4) establish a peer network; (5) assume…