Presents an informal dialogue on teaching poetry in diverse settings. Shares teachers' success stories in teaching poetry. Notes basic principles--students must write poetry, hear poetry read aloud, and be aware of how people of other cultures express their feelings. (RS)

Provides examples and a summary of the results of a survey completed by nonscience majors (n=57). Students provided information about the importance of chemistry to their majors and argued their point of view in a paper. (DDR)

Discusses two approaches to student information and technology assignments: one stressing product, the other process. Suggests methods for assuring that students learn what they are supposed to learn from process: make a chart listing desired outcomes or skills to be mastered and the student's level of proficiency, have semester or year-end tests,…

This article describes a strategy for using Braille Lite, a portable notetaking device that combines synthetic speech and Braille, to produce mathematical expressions that can be easily interpreted by sighted teachers who do not use Braille. The strategy also allows students to review their work tactilely on the Braille display. (Contains 2…

Recounts the experiences of two different night hikes by junior high students in central Ohio which focused on writing a group poem and exploring the mysteries of the "unlit" world. Discusses imagery and features excerpts from "night" poetry, both that written by the students and readings from published poets. (PA)

Describes a group activity for writing and evaluating poetry on "pi." Notes that the activity worked well in a high-school geometry class and that the students in the class had fun with it. (RS)

Describes an assignment for an introductory computer science class that requires the student to write a software program that simulates an automated teller machine. Highlights include an algorithm for the assignment; sample file contents; language features used; assignment variations; and discussion points. (LRW)

Analyzes video recordings of three undergraduate students' textbook-based homework. Focuses on the ways in which their exercise reasoning is mathematically well-founded or superficial. Indicates that most strategy choices and implementations are carried out without considering the intrinsic mathematical properties of the components involved in…

Reviews the benefits of library work (and some cautions) before describing four assignments that exploit library resources: a business report assignment; a professional journal assignment; a style manual format assignment; and an international business communication assignment. (SG)

Discusses the "Report in a Can" research process that focuses on the successful gathering of data, and outlines its four major steps. Argues for engaging primary students in well-planned research assignments. Describes how to create a "Report in a Can." (SG)

Describes a teacher rationale for the use of homework and a take-home page to help parents understand the importance of good homework tasks for enhancing mathematics education. (YDS)

Notes that a difficulty with the multigenre paper assignment is that educators assume that students are familiar enough with the various genres to write skillfully in the genres they select. Suggests that multigenre assignments can be improved by changing forms and format; changing perspectives; and changing boundaries. Concludes that multigenre…

Interviews Nancy Larson. Notes that in 1976, Nancy Larson joined the staff of the Teachers and Writers Collaborative and later became its director. Discusses in this interview insights gained from teaching and reflections on educational trends, writing movements, and visionary teachers. (PM)

Illustrates how significant numbers of college students are "lost": they are unsituated in academic space. Suggests a rigorous exploration of the changing academic space outside of school offices and off campuses. Presents 4 assignments that provide a conceptual place (a topic) while also prompting students to make meaning out of the people-places…

Proposes that a local homework club can provide the type of setting that supports a school's instructional priorities. Notes that homework clubs are also important because they foster individualization of instruction. Discusses key elements of effective homework clubs. Suggests that club activities can be enhanced through effective staff…