Discusses the results of two national studies of high school literature programs that examined the relationship between school library media programs and successful literature programs. Topics addressed include collection size; accessibility, including networks; title availability, including those by women and minority authors; and teachers' uses…

Public school enrollment is increasing, especially among minority students. Preschool attendance is up. The number of elementary schools has lagged behind enrollment and school size. Teacher numbers and salaries have risen since the 1980s. Local school revenues are surpassing state government revenues. The national per pupil expenditure rate is…

Presents an interdisciplinary approach to organizing primary school subjects of reading, writing, and mathematics around social studies concepts. The strategy known as the storyline strategy, developed at Jordanhill College of Education in Scotland, is based upon concept development and experiential learning. Illustrates the method with a chart…

Describes the use of mapping and portfolio assessment by school library media specialists to document changes in student reading, writing, and information use patterns. Topics discussed include new curriculum designs in language arts and social studies; information literacy; comparing earlier and later work; and student reflection. (Contains 37…

Asserts that history for primary-level children should be organized around key ideas that characterize the field of history. Maintains that such everyday concepts such as time, change, the continuity of human life, and the past can be taught to young children and can be used as a foundation for later historical thinking. (CFR)

Discusses tensions and dilemmas that arise in the implementation of Vygotskian psychology. Analyzes the development of special educational needs and practice in the former Soviet Union and compares this with similar changes in England and Wales. Uses interviews in Russian schools and Moscow State University to illustrate the analysis. (CFR)

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

Describes the investigation of South African English-as-a-Second-Language high school students perceptions of classroom activities in terms of their feelings toward the activities as well as their value in current and future learning. Using questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observations, results found that the learners' perceptions often…

An experiment in a grade 2 French immersion program compared performance of a group-taught music lessons totally integrated into classroom instruction and a group not given music instruction. Pre- and post-tests of tonal-rhythmic patterns and form that have commonalities with pronunciation, oral grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension found…

Readers' theater engages students in reading and writing activities that offer both affective and cognitive rewards. Students can develop their own scripts that introduce books, replacing the traditional book report with creative participation and active peer recommendation. Appendices provide two sample scripts. (AEF)

Discussion of literature-based reading programs focuses on a study that investigated the elementary school library media specialist's roles as information specialist, teacher, and instructional consultant during the implementation of a literature-based reading program. Recommendations are offered regarding parents' roles, material selection, and…

Argues that literature-based social studies provide personal perspectives for examining essential social studies concepts and generalizations. Includes lesson sequences utilizing trade books to teach about poverty, hope, and involuntary relocation for primary, middle, and secondary school students. Briefly describes the books mentioned and…

Provides a more in-depth look at selected historical fiction from the "1995 Notable Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies." Includes learning activities for middle school students constructed around several of the books. The historical works address diverse subjects such as the African American experience and World War II. (MJP)

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

Supporters believe that the flexibility granted these new public schools allows them to be more innovative and responsive to student needs than traditional public schools are. But do students in charter schools learn more than their counterparts in traditional public schools? In order to answer this question, the authors have analyzed established…