This book provides a discussion of rhetoric and its importance in second language learning in general, with specific remarks on problems in teaching English as a second language. Logic (not in the strictest philosophical sense), the basic rhetoric, is evolved out of a culture; it is not universal. Rhetoric is not universal either. Rhetorical…

Students' brains are wired to make them natural, curious learners. The mathematical world around them offers a vast classroom, filled with shapes, spaces, quantities, and experiences to discover and explore, all leading to the construction of understanding. Teachers can use this natural curiosity to tap the inborn neural mechanisms that motivate…

As increasing numbers of students with diverse needs are included in general education, the preparation of preservice teachers needs to be reformed. Traditional curriculum, methods, and management courses need revision as the population in general education classes changes. With the trend toward full inclusion, the typical school classroom…

This workbook, one of six professional development manuals prepared by experienced adult basic education (ABE) instructors, is designed to assist the instructor setting up and operating an ABE classroom. A pretest and posttest appear first. Each of the units begins with a list of objectives and then provides instructional material. Unit 1…

Contends that no single definition of critical thinking is widely accepted. Describes issues related to critical thinking and offers suggestions for demystifying the concept. Presents a framework for a psychology curriculum using performance-based assessment practices. (CFR)

An apparently simple self-study that consisted of a longitudinal review of Grade 12 students' self-reflections from the past five years triggered a personally profound struggle about past classroom practices and surfaced a host of assumptions about teaching and learning. This research challenged the author to enact personal and professional values…

Faculty members from the University of South Dakota attended the Curriculum Reform Institute offered by the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, WI, during the summer of 2002 to design a course sequence for elementary education majors that better meets their needs for both content and pedagogy based on the science education standards. The special…

In this essay, the author describes a judicial confirmation simulation she developed as an approach to feminist teaching. She also discusses the importance of active learning in the classroom, as well as simulation background and teacher preparation for the simulation. Students are asked to sign up for various roles in the simulation. These are:…

As a challenge to traditional assessment, this paper describes how the work of a network of teachers to improve schooling through authentic assessment and practice may lead to a general reform of nearly all aspects of the educational enterprise. The paper springs from observation of participant teachers in the Four Seasons Project which is…

The Educational Testing Service is developing a new series of assessments intended for use by states as part of the process of licensing or certifying teachers. Stage III assessments in this series will evaluate the beginning teacher's application of teaching knowledge and skills. Stage III assessments will be performance-based. Job analysis…

In an effort to examine the usefulness of adult learning research for improving college teaching, this study investigated tenets of adult learning research which may be manifest in effective college teaching and sought the perceptions of administrators, faculty and students. The study incorporated a multi-site, integrated research design combining…

Designed to be used in conjunction with the book "Canoeing", published by the American Red Cross in 1977, the teaching packet provides assistance in organizing and teaching a basic canoeing class. The packet lists 20 class objectives and details essential and recommended equipment and safety precautions. The packet contains a 15-day unit…

A study examined the extent to which perceived teacher status differentials influenced students' perceptions of teacher self-disclosure. This study involved a two-step procedure. Initially 30 students in a basic speech section were asked to recall examples of teacher self-disclosure that had occurred in classes in which they were enrolled. Then 13…

Our initial intention was to set out to explore the potential for implementing outcome-based assessment practices in a first year statistics unit. It has evolved into a search for a pedagogy enabling clear definition of the desired learning outcomes in our students, and alignment of instruction, student resources and assessment with these…

This study examines the relationship between selected teacher and student verbal behaviors occuring during social science concept instruction and the residual class mean scores of third, fourth, and fifth grade students on a test of the social science concept specialization. Twenty pre-service teachers and two experienced teachers were the teacher…