The Maryland School Performance Program released six sample tasks to illustrate the types of assessment tasks that would appear on the 1992 Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP). Students' responses to these tasks are open-ended; that is, students generate their own responses. A wide range of responses to each task is acceptable.…

This sourcebook contains articles, resources, and sample teaching materials to assist practitioners implementing developmentally appropriate practices in the classroom. The first six parts of the sourcebook contain reprints of more than 40 journal articles, topical bibliographies and resource lists, and sample teaching materials. The topics of…

This monograph describes the Success for All program, developed in 1986 by the Center for Research on Effective Schooling for Disadvantaged Students at Johns Hopkins University. The program is built around the idea that every child can and must succeed in the early grades, and that all aspects of school and classroom organization should be…

Project CHILD (Computers Helping Instruction and Learning Development) is a major research project designed to develop an innovative computer-integrated instructional program for the elementary school. It has been a four-year effort funded by grants totalling $1,055,000 from the Florida Department of Education with additional support from 7…

Technological progress in communication and transportation within the past 30 years has made many areas of the world accessible, as well as interdependent. Failure to understand the concept of interdependency greatly diminishes the potential of all nations and each citizen to appreciate this world community. This agricultural awareness program…

Both humanity and nature have suffered greatly from human insensitivity. Not only are the natural resources of the earth being depleted and its air, land and water polluted, the financial resources of humanity are being wasted on destructive expenditures. The "Our Only Earth" series is an integrated science, language arts, and social studies…

A study examined the effectiveness of a collaborative research and development project designed to enhance the academic competence of typically underserved minority students through instructional strategies which emphasize cooperative learning, maximize heterogeneous skill groupings, and focus on higher order thinking and communication skills.…

An oral language continuum designed to help elementary students develop techniques for a variety of speech situations, learn to listen, and learn to be aware of the responsibility of the speaker is presented. The continuum is divided into four sections. Student needs, implications for teaching, and suggested activities are arranged sequentially.…

Much of the computer software currently available for English teachers fails to assess adequately computer strengths and weaknesses. Labeled "wimpy software," these products are often little more than animated textbooks whose lesson formats exercise little higher-order reasoning. The future for good quality software, therefore, rests with English…

Intended for elementary school teachers who want to incorporate language skill-building activities into their subject area instruction, this booklet provides practical teaching strategies based on research about how children learn to read and communicate. The three major sections of the booklet deal with (1) teaching comprehension and study skills…

Designed for use in junior high school language arts classes, this learning activity packet introduces students to North American folklore. Selected readings cover Indian tales, real folk heroes (Davy Crockett and John Henry), imaginary folk heroes (Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill), Black folk stories (Brer Rabbit), and tales of Washington Irving. Each…

Prepared as part of a series applying recent research in oral and written communication instruction to classroom practice, this booklet deals with the integrated language arts curriculum. Noting the disparity between what is advocated for and what is practiced in language arts teaching, the first section of the booklet describes an integrated…

One of a series of activity guides, this publication offers a variety of learning activities and resource materials to enhance student recognition of American history, citizenship, and famous Americans through the observance of special days and events in the winter months. Lesson plans are provided to develop communications skills. The guide…

A junior high level human relations class develops human interaction and oral communication skills. A week-by-week syllabus contains the following components: introduction of the students to each other and to the principles of body language, transactional analysis, and group interaction; behavior contracts; group dynamics topics and exercises;…

Like so many slogans, "Whole Language" is a dangerous term because its meaning varies with each educator. Whole Language is not a method of teaching, nor is it a program; it is a philosophy or viewpoint. Nine major characteristics of a Whole Language approach as culled from a variety of sources, with most agreed upon by a majority of…