Poetry should be an integral part of children's learning in elementary school. This article explains the classroom structures and routines through which third-grade students in an inner-city school became familiar with poetic language and learned to appreciate the artistry of poetry. Most of the students were struggling readers. Reading poetry…

Mini-lessons (brief, informative explanations that demonstrate what readers do) are a key instructional practice in meaning centered reading programs. The content of the mini-lessons is determined by the needs of learners. In procedural mini-lessons, teachers explain the steps for successfully completing a task or performing a reading-related…

This document presents an instructional strategy for teaching chemical bonding using parables and music. Games, student interactions, and worksheets are included in the lesson plans. Topics include metallic bonding, covalent bonding including molecular and network structure, and ionic bonding. (JRH)

Describes a teaching method for freshman English courses in remedial writing, especially the details of the first day's lesson. (RB)

A three-stage lesson sequence that used story grammars to teach plot development has been proved successful with a group of eight above average third grade students reading Deborah and James Howe's "Bunnicula." The first stage was a training unit designed to familiarize children with a typical story grammar's parts: a theme and plot…

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…

Jigsaw, a form of cooperative learning, was researched by Aronson (1978). Later, Slavin (1981) adapted Jigsaw to Student Team Learning and called it Jigsaw II. Jigsaw currently shows the least achievement gains among the various cooperative methodologies. Nonetheless, it is a viable methodology and is useful for covering and reviewing material.…

The manual describes the value and processes of music and dance improvisation with disabled students. The experiential nature of improvisation is said to allow the student to explore choices and alternatives. Teachers are given general guidelines, including to be prepared to try anything, to be positive and enthusiastic, and to give constructive…

The booklet describes approaches to teaching a large group of severely developmentally disabled students. The book begins with a review of the circle time format intended to foster motivation through a sense of playfulness, novel items, and opportunities for student participation and response. A theme approach to planning is advocated, and…

Part of the PREP Program (Preparatory Reading Program for Visually Handicapped Children), the document presents 10 units, each consisting of a picture story in large print, and emphasizing concept development rather than braille skills. Designed for use in conjunction with the program's other two components, the 10 units are aimed at visually…

Designed as additional materials for study by Air Force academic instructor resident trainees, these chapters review retention, transfer of learning, and other elements and principles of learning; steps in preparing effective instructional materials, together with criteria for self-appraisal; the setting of desired learning outcomes, selection of…

Following a discussion of the value of intuitive thought processes, this paper calls for elementary and secondary teachers to encourage intuitive thinking in addition to analytic thinking. It points out that the demand for precise, analytic answers to teacher-posed questions fosters student dependency; cites statements by Jerome Bruner about the…

The last of seven modules on team teaching, this document deals with the prerequisites for good planning sessions. The major objectives are to acquaint teachers with a variety of team planning purposes for improving instruction, to show the relationship between the goals of team teaching and the planning completed at varying times of the year, to…

The 12 model assignments presented in this booklet are designed to help secondary-level students become more skillful and knowledgeable readers and to encourage the appreciation of literature. Each assignment provides a general objective, a product that the student is to create, a list of concepts and skills necessary to complete the assignment, a…

It is important that students become aware of the enormous impact that man has upon his environment and that they become concerned and participate in activities which will help them develop responsibile attitudes toward the natural world. Presents an ecology lesson and a conservation lesson with suggested teaching guides. (Author/RK)