The six editions of this newsletter provide a forum for the sharing of research findings and instructional strategies by faculty of Western Michigan University on issues connected with critical thinking. Topics addressed include alternative program designs for critical thinking instruction, a philosophical exploration of what critical thinking is,…

Provides a description of a classroom procedure incorporating small group work to help students develop critical thinking skills. (DF)

Describes a pilot "work required" assessment procedure in a high school English class. Shows how the skills of classroom negotiation work when students plan and manage instruction. Discusses learning to negotiate, the advantages of the program, trials and errors, the change in classroom climate, and negotiating reading. (EL)

Describes one teacher's inclusion of the Morning Meeting concept in her third-grade classroom and relates student success in standardized testing to its implementation. Provides detailed information on Morning Meeting including its structure, rationale, and influence; includes an argument for immediate implementation. Concludes by asserting that…

A program was implemented for improving student's motivation in order to increase their performance and self-esteem. The targeted population consisted of primary grade students in middle-class communities within the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Analysis of probable cause data revealed students' lack of skills related to organization,…

This paper examines the methods used in designing school and classroom environments. The tools are labeled: (1) discipline-centered schooling; (2) empirical-naturalistic schooling; and (3) great works schooling. First, the outline endeavors to reveal the essential elements of the three tools that represent images, structures, or "maps" of…

Discusses the role of the teacher, the nature of learning, and the relationships between students and teachers in calling for a science of English teaching. (DF)

Offers suggestions for organizing the primary classroom to provide ideal conditions for teaching reading. (DF)

This handbook is designed to help student teachers and beginning teachers handle the "surprises" they encounter on the job. The scenarios in the book identify critical incidents and potential situations teachers are likely to face and offer help in keeping teachers out of unpleasant situations or suggesting courses of action when they find…

The six editions of the newsletter provide a forum for the sharing of research findings and instructional strategies by faculty of Western Michigan University. Topics addressed include: active learning; lecture variations; lecture techniques; grading student participation; leading discussions; overcoming silence; discussion challenges; course…

Eleven middle school teachers' planning and classroom activities for the first day of the school year were examined through interviews, written lesson plans, and classroom observations. The purpose was to identify factors in planning and to identify relationships among planning and classroom management on the first day and throughout the first 8…

Described a naturalistic study of an Early Learning Lab which yielded examples of classroom management strategies that allowed young children to create their own solutions to help them feel empowered when accomplishing a task, while gaining self-confidence and a sense of identity from the experience. (Author/SD)

Illustrates variations in purposes and types of peer-learning group work in public schools, and details factors that influence the process. Describes new developments in peer learning and collaborative communities, as well as the technology support for collaboration. (GR)

Reports on the relationship between the seating patterns of students and their observed attitudes toward class activities in an English-as-a-Second-Language class. Discusses issues of physical territoriality, psycholinguistic territoriality, and active participation by students. (CFR)

Examined special education effectiveness for students with mild disabilities in six California grade schools. Found that no single feature, structure, or organization of school environment consistently indicated a school's relative standing or its relative effectiveness based on student performance. Findings posed implications for educational…