Analyzes the effort of a small group of high school seniors to interpret the character of Laertes in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" through a "body biography," a life-sized human outline they filled with images and words representing their understanding of the character. Examines their discussion as they composed their text. (PA)

Explores the effect of classroom-workplace collaborations on student learning. Explores how classroom-workplace collaborations help to teach professional genres. Examines how they replicate workplace activity and convey features of workplace genres and how they serve as transitional experiences for students. Examines students' reactions to the…

New Zealand is attempting to introduce a "seamless" system of qualifications for senior secondary school students delivered through modules (learning units) and linked to higher education qualifications. This paper studies how one school's change to a modular curriculum delivery system affected staff and students. Staff perceptions…

States that a yearbook has the potential of doing good in its school and community, but can also violate good taste and do damage to individuals. Advises the use of "common sense" when writing captions and thoughtfulness and informed action when dealing with what could be legal complications. (PA)

Explores adult musicians' first remembrances of music. Reports that the first remembered responses appeared around ages 3-5; were associated with high affect, positive feelings, and "other persons present"; and indicated both the place where early music experience happened and the specific "music or genre." (CMK)

Examines the mechanics of a large-scale writing portfolio assessment at the University of Michigan, including its impact on matriculation and placement; students' reactions to the requirement; and instructors' evaluation of the efficacy of placements under the new system. Examines the scoring process used by readers to assess portfolios, and…

Describes a classroom demonstration that uses daily horoscopes to show the effect that expectation can have on judgment. Addresses the preparation, procedure, and results of the demonstration, and student evaluations. States that the demonstration appears to be effective for teaching students about expectancy confirmation. (CMK)

Surveys the implementation of language experience and considers its benefits. Describes how teachers use language experience to demonstrate that language is used to express ideas and thoughts. Concludes that literacy educators need to redouble efforts to model Language Experience at all levels of professional development and to link theory with…

Summarizes evidence from two evaluative studies of the initial training course for new teaching staff at Oxford Brookes University, UK. Findings indicate that the course has had a positive effect for most of the participants. Presents evidence of the positive feedback in the form of comments from several participants. Attitude statements used in…

An Illinois district is reaping the benefits of a teacher job-sharing program. Planners must consider daily common planning time; notification deadlines for job-sharing decisions and finding partners; requirements for attendance at school meetings and functions; effects on salary, benefits, and tenure; and eligibility requirements. (MLH)

Presents a high school student's description in class of her deep connection to Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," and how it offers a glimpse of the vast interior lives of women. (SR)

First-year engineering students at Robert Gordon University (Scotland) were presented with a task-oriented induction program. Students were divided into groups and assigned a facilitator, later personal tutor, to whom they could refer. Student reaction to the experience was very favorable. Effect on progression rates is yet to be determined. (AEF)

Examines a subset of oral responses young children (grades K-2) make during interactive read-alouds of picture storybooks. Describes this set of responses and does some theoretical speculation about how educators might understand them. Describes how knowledge of the various types of these responses could be put into practical use in classrooms.…

A study of schools in two English local education authorities found that time spent teaching Shakespeare increases in Year 9 now that the National Curriculum mandates testing on Shakespeare. However, restrictions on the choice of plays is limiting teaching methods and diminishing student learning and enjoyment of the subject. (SK)

Describes a project that used a multimedia tool, Hyperstudio, to facilitate collaborative critical inquiry in the classrooms. Discusses the students' reaction, infusing academic rigor into multimedia projects, students' accomplishments and approach to challenges, and project evaluation. Sidebars list steps in conducting multimedia projects and…