This guide shares information about the South Carolina Curriculum Standards with parents. The standards outline state requirements for children's learning, and what students across the state should be able to do in certain subjects. The guide lists seven key reasons for parents to be aware of the new curriculum standards, and then presents a…

This guide shares information about the South Carolina Curriculum Standards with parents. The standards outline state requirements for children's learning, and what students across the state should be able to do in certain subjects. The guide lists seven key reasons for parents to be aware of the new curriculum standards, and then presents a…

This unit of study explores elements of wonder, distortion, fantasy, and whimsy in Lewis Carroll's beloved classic "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." In the unit, students explore concepts about Wonderland and then listen to the opening chapters of "The Nursery Alice," Carroll's adaptation for younger readers and view Sir John…

The Delaware Student Testing Program ties student achievement to the state's content standards that define the knowledge and skills Delaware students need to succeed beyond high school. This report presents information to help parents interpret their children's scores on the tests, which are given in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. Section 1 introduces…

This pamphlet explains a child's Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) "Student Report for Parents/Guardians." In spring 1999, more than 210,000 students from grades 4, 8, and 10 in Massachusetts took the state's MCAS tests. All public students in grades 4, 8, and 10 are required to participate, and the Education Reform…

Reviews educational computer games, tutorials, and drill/practice programs for Atari and Apple microcomputers. Includes: games/nursery rhymes for pre-schoolers; graphics, word scramble, and vocabulary programs; mathematics programs (fractions, reading/solving mathematics problems, estimating angles/lengths); science (chemistry, weather, astronomy,…

Provided is a list of educational software arranged alphabetically by manufacturer. Entries include name, system requirements, current cost, and a brief description. A wide variety of subject areas, educational levels, and formats (drill/practice, games, tutorials, and others) are included. (JN)

Seventy-one ideas for learning activities in the elementary school classroom are described. Activities are included in the areas of fine arts, mathematics, language arts, history, writing, listening skills, and science. (CJ)

Describes the Weehawken, New Jersey, individualized language arts program to develop better ways of teaching writing and composition through diagnosing student writing needs, using prescriptive teaching techniques, and evaluating student progress. Validated by the Office of Education, the program has spread across the country. (MF)

Describes the College Board's Pacesetter Program, high school courses developed using principles of ongoing performance testing and portfolios, standards, and curriculum. The model is illustrated in a description of the Voices of Modern Culture language arts course. Argues that this assessment process has systemic validity and is more relevant to…

Describes a collaborative effort in Beaufort County (South Carolina) to provide middle school students with laptop computers. Student and teacher reactions are discussed; examples of language arts projects are described; and a sidebar offers suggestions for funding that include parental contributions, corporate and community sponsorships, and…

Discussion of hypermedia and computer-mediated communication focuses on a project that merges a language arts Internet resource with a hypermedia-based knowledge construction approach to learning. Highlights include constructing a HyperCard-based program on Shakespeare's "Hamlet," gophers and search engines, downloading, collaborative…

Provides five fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in elementary school reading and language arts and science, and secondary school social studies. Library media skills, objectives, grade levels, instructional roles, evaluation, and follow-up are described for each activity. (LRW)

Utilizes M. A. K. Halliday's theories concerning the social and cultural functions of language to construct a series of social studies/language arts integrated learning activities. First graders wrote letters to an imaginary mouse in their desks and third graders answered the letters. Analyzes this activity and includes an annotated bibliography.…

Discussion of the use of technology in primary grades focuses on a pilot project in the Orchard Park (New York) elementary schools that used computers to teach a nonfiction unit for English language arts, focusing on the New York State learning standards. Describes the role of school library media specialists and benefits to students. (LRW)