The purpose of this article is to introduce text sets of picture books that address 10 ancient civilizations commonly taught in middle school and also offer instructional strategies that could be used for critical and multicultural literacy exploration. Beginning with discussion of the importance of picture books and text sets in the middle school…

Twelve integration techniques, such as tracing shapes on paper, are described and suggestions for five activities (including materials needed, activity directions, implications, positioning, cautions, and adaptations) are provided. (For related material, see EJ 216 140 and EJ 216 239.) (PHR)

Describes visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning modes and suggests children's literature that corresponds with each mode. Characteristics of students who prefer one of the three modes are given, and examples of children's literature appropriate to each group are provided. (KRN)

Describes classroom action research with the verbal-visual word association strategy. Explores the strategy with a group of junior high and high school students on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in southeastern Montana. Shares interpretative impressions and results of a vocabulary quiz given to the high school group. (RS)

A clinical psychologist describes an approach she uses to assess learning disabled students. She explains that brain function is analyzed through a sequence of tasks charting visual and auditory discrimination, perception, memory, organization, integration, and output. An example is cited in which an 11 year old child with traumatic brain injury…

Discusses the use of the Rainbow Solfege system with early elementary aged children. Uses color-coding to connect the teaching of music notation symbols with aural solfege. Addresses the use of color in teaching music and how to use the system. (CMK)

Focuses on how visual images can help students integrate concepts and synthesize information to make a judgment, thereby guiding the learner toward higher order thinking. Uses geography to demonstrate how, by incorporating visual exercises, student perceptions of difficult concepts are enhanced. (CMK)

Describes an art project for high school students that incorporates maskmaking with mixed-media. Explains that students choose subjects for their masks, either a fictional character, a famous figure, or a symbol of social commentary. States that the project develops students' creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. (CMK)

The biochemistry lecture is often the place where students receive the greatest exposure to the structural nature of biomolecules. The use of molecular visualization software and web-based animated tutorials has enhanced the way instructors teach this important area of structural biology. Using the software and tutorials in class is an excellent…

Works of art can be a valuable tool for teaching reading skills, such as visual discrimination, language experience, word recognition, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and other language arts skills. Classroom activities based on art work are described. Sources of art reproductions are noted. (PP)

Contends that many choral programs suffer from a continued dependence on the piano for music learning and intonation. Provides suggestions that will help students develop sight-reading and singing skills that are not centered around the piano, such as creating a sight-reading system and having students read choral music immediately. (CMK)

Approaches taken in the United States and France to use of visual pedagogy are compared and discussed. The necessity of integrating semiotic theory and visual pedagogy is underscored, a semiotic model of visual literacy and decoding is outlined, and some advertisements are analyzed, giving suggestions for teaching use. (MSE)

Seven articles in this issue focus on the use of realia in instruction. Authors discuss reasons why realia effectively motivate students and enhance learning; the place of realia in supervised occupational experience programs; the importance of real-life experiences to vocational agriculture; and student teaching as a reality experience. (SK)

Describes the Agam program, a 36-unit curriculum program to introduce students to basic visual concepts and that applies visual abilities and visual thinking to learning tasks. Describes two units at the third grade level, "Ratio and Proportion" and "Numerical Intuition," and makes observations of the students' learning. (MDH)

There are a number of issues that must be addressed when delivering courses entirely online, such as designing effective user interfaces, using the visual medium of the World Wide Web effectively, and modifying traditional instructional methods. This paper discusses the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of an online course at…