The instructional decisions made by classroom teachers impact the learning acquired by students. The Common Core Mathematics Standards and the history of mathematics education in the United States create a background for how geometry standards are taught in one Midwest middle school. A study of the pacing guides, lesson plans, and naturalistic…

Teaching approaches in economic geography traditionally cover the effects of deindustrialization on the landscape but offer less insight into the development of services as a prominent sector, because of the longer histories of manufacturing and industrial economies (Moore and Hunt 2016). Incorporating services into economic geography curricula…

Just as athletes stretch their muscles before every game and musicians play scales to keep their technique in tune, mathematical thinkers and problem solvers can benefit from daily warm-up exercises. Jessica Shumway has developed a series of routines designed to help young students internalize and deepen their facility with numbers. The daily use…

In the first part to this article, the author described three stages that he believes are effective starting points for translating familiar classroom activities into mathematics-with-information and communications technology (ICT) lessons that exploit the power of variation to focus student attention. In this second part, the author continues to…

Presents two lessons that teach students problem-solving behaviors for the classroom. (SR)

This guidebook contains materials from "NOTES Plus," the National Council of Teachers of English's (NCTE's) journal for the exchange of ideas by teachers and other English professionals. The suggestions presented here are meant for use by substitute teachers. The activities are divided into five categories: "Thinking and Writing with…

Designed for the Bringing Out Head Start Talents (BOHST) project, three sets of lesson plans focus on the development of three types of thinking processes with preschool children: (1) "detective thinking" (using clues to find the single right answer); (2) "inventor thinking" (brainstorming many answers to a single question);…

This book explores how teachers use class meetings for a variety of purposes, from planning for a substitute teacher to planning a science unit. It also looks at how students can use class meetings to set class goals and monitor their progress in achieving them, to reflect on accumulated learning, and to solve common problems such as teasing,…

Defines critical thinking and provides a practical approach to applying it to teaching physical education (PE). Critical thinking in PE can result in improved skills, fitness, and knowledge. Examples of the kinds of questions and challenges appropriate for a critical thinking lesson in PE are provided. (SM)

Problem solving is an ideal learning strategy, especially for topics that are perceived as difficult to teach. As an example, a format is described for a problem-solving session designed to help students understand the pressure-flow hypothesis of phloem transport in plants. Five key facts and their discussion can lead to the conclusion that a…

The role of the teacher is viewed as that of a decision maker and problem solver. It is pointed out that in daily work teachers must deal not only with planning lessons, selecting educational materials, initiating activities suitable for students of different abilities and motivating students, but also must deal with discipline, parent-school…

Desktop Adventures are computer-based scenarios incorporating the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics for practicing problem solving across the curriculum suitable for whole class or cooperative group instruction. Reviews problem solving steps and approaches and describes introducing, creating, and extending desktop…

Presented is the experimental edition of Unit I: Exploring My Environment, which consists of 29 life science curriculum activities intended for the 13-to-15-year-old educable mentally retarded child. The curriculum guide is being used in the final field test prior to revision. Stressed throughout the program are ecological themes, inquiry skills,…

Presented is the experimental edition of Unit II: Me as a Habitat, which consists of 19 life science curriculum activities intended for the 13-to-15-year-old educable mentally retarded child. The curriculum guide is being used in the final field test prior to revision. Stressed throughout the program are ecological themes, inquiry skills, problem…