Describes a class for ninth graders at a private school that used the study of music to help develop six basic intellectual skills and to provide a foundation for further creative work. Discusses using the inquiry/discovery method, applying the intellect, listening to and learning from pop music, the dangers of this approach, and the final exam…

Discusses insights from both the instructional design community and members of research groups seeking to transform typical classrooms into "learning communities," and encourages discussion among members of these two communities. Gives an overview of frameworks for instructional design, and the principles of learning communities. (71…

Explains how teachers can help their students to explore trickster tales by reading those tales written down, gathering those passed on by word of mouth, writing some of their own, and considering what these tales tell their readers about the real world. Provides suggestions for a coordinated group discussion of trickster tales. (TB)

Explains the National Issues Forums (NIF), a nonpartisan program of public-issue discussions designed to enable citizens to have a more effective voice in U.S. politics. The role of libraries in the NIF is discussed; resources the NIF provides are described; and public relations benefits to libraries that participate are considered. (LRW)

For the past 3 years, 12 elementary teachers have participated in the Talking Mathematics project. Besides working with master teachers to explore techniques, principles, and models of mathematical talk in their K-7 classrooms, the project aimed to identify difficulties teachers experience in supporting mathematical discourse, and document the…

Describes a drama/discussion technique designed to help students "re-see" their stories and possibly revise their work. Describes in detail how one second grade student went through several revisions of her story based on discussion with fellow students and the teacher during and after dramatization of her story. (RS)

This article reviews the past research and principles for facilitating moral growth through group discussion and the theories of judgment-action discrepancies. An intervention model is suggested which utilizes actual moral misbehaviors as the basis for both moral discussion and behavioral intervention. (Author/DB)

Presents an activity used with ninth and tenth grade remedial readers which introduces the students to five patterns in writing that are common in textbooks: listing, sequence, cause-effect, problem-solution, and comparison-contrast. (PRA)

Offers descriptions and annotations of 23 children's books that tend to move students' talk in different directions. (SR)

Considers why short stories might profitably supplement other narrative forms. Suggests discussion questions and activities for one story, James Purdy's "Cutting Edge." Lists, according to topic, other stories of potential interest to teachers and students of family communication. (MG)

Defines analogies, discusses the benefits of teaching students to create analogies, and presents a strategy for analogy instruction with numerous classroom applications. Using professionally prepared materials, teachers can help students engage in analogous thinking by analyzing different kinds of relationships, balancing terms, creating original…

Discusses current research concerning questioning strategies used by classroom teachers. Surveys five important studies which demonstrate disagreement among researchers but which all show the value of prereading questions and questions considered during reading. (HB)

Considers the relationship between the seemingly unrelated fields of science and aesthetics. Provides an edited dialog on this topic between a teacher and juniors in a high school chemistry class. Encourages the use of such dialogs as a powerful way of fostering active learning. (HB)

Presents a list of books designed to stimulate thought and lively discussion on feelings and emotions that concern children most. The article offers suggestions on how teachers should use the books in class. (SM)

Describes "textsets" (two or more books related in some way) and how they can be used to benefit students. Includes suggestions that may prove to be helpful when considering using textsets in the classroom. (MG)