Provides a series of suggestions for improving choral rehearsals and maintaining the students' vocal health. Advocates establishing an adequate warm-up period, allowing drinking water in the rehearsals, and choosing age-appropriate material. Recommends allowing students to rehearse difficult material in a comfortable range. (MJP)

Reports a study that examined resilient and nonresilient urban middle school students' perceptions of their classroom learning environment. Data analysis revealed that resilient students had higher perceptions of involvement, task orientation, rule clarity, pacing, satisfaction, and feedback than nonresilient students did. Resilient students also…

The Ann Arbor Public Schools and University of Michigan partnership created the Foundations of Science (FOS) course, designed to integrate the high school science sequence into a three-year project based upon real-life science investigations. Specially designed software, information technology, and Internet resources were utilized. Student…

Describes the One-Third Report method for motivating reluctant students to read and write: the teacher reads aloud a portion of a story; the class brainstorms endings; students read one-third of assignments, then write about what they need to know or hypothesize endings, which motivates them to finish the story. Includes sample One-Third Report.…

Explains nondirective or pupil-centered teaching, an alternative to traditional education in the Soviet Union. Uses Vygotsky's area of proximal development to envision teaching methods that anticipate and promote higher development levels. Stresses humanistic approach, involving students and responding to individual needs. Also proposes in-depth…

Academic risk taking--the selection of schoollike tasks ranging in difficulty and probability of success--was examined for 602 students in grades 4, 6, and 8 in Taiwan. Results of a self-report measure of tolerance for failure and a risk-taking task are discussed concerning self-enhancement versus self-assessment goals, metacognitive skills, and…

Teachers' perceptions of incentives and deterrents for teaching special education, teachers' movements between districts over a 5-year period, and teachers' future professional goals were queried through a survey of 484 Alaska special education teachers conducted by the Alaska Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD). Retention of…

Reports a college-school project that examined the effects of thematically integrated mathematics instruction on Mexican American middle school students' mathematics achievement, attitudes, and motivation. Students receiving thematic instruction surpassed traditionally instructed students on mathematics concepts and applications. The two programs…

Presents ideas and suggestions from three music educators about interdisciplinary approaches to music education. Recommends using techniques frequently included in elementary methods on this topic. Outlines strategies for collaborative planning with subject-matter teachers. (CFR)

Summarizes a survey of developments during 1993 through 94 in public and private school library media programs in the United States. Highlights include: expenditures for all types of nonbook resources compared to books, reading motivation programs, staff development programs, and the use of Internet and e-mail. Seventeen tables display survey…

A survey of 1,234 McGill University (Canada) students (entrants, graduates, alumni, and voluntary withdrawals) in a management continuing education program investigated the anticipated benefits in career development, fulfillment of imposed requirements, personal development, networking, attainment of knowledge, and personal fulfillment.…

Describes the "number 2 arithmetic challenge," an activity in which students score points by creating examples using the number 2 that satisfy an unknown rule. Computers are utilized to verify and record examples. Conflicts with computer responses create situations to explore negative numbers, fractions, mixed numbers, the order of…

Proposes the method of student-generated story problems to supplement textbook problems, generate student interest, and bring real-life situations into the mathematics classroom. Gives steps to initiate the method that incorporates small groups and peer teaching to develop problem-solving and problem-posing abilities. (MDH)

Studies student attitudes and teacher influence on educational outcomes among 137 undergraduates attending the University of California at Los Angeles. The existence of a grade-point-average perspective (emphasis on good grades over critical and analytical learning) is confirmed, and the influence of teachers on this perspective and educational…

A survey of heads of education divisions in 245 colleges and universities in the United States investigated their perceptions of the relationship between various faculty activities (teaching, service, publication) and rewards (tenure, promotion, merit pay, contract renewal) in motivating teachers and in making administrative decisions. (Author/MSE)