Intended for use with the Creative Curriculum for Early Childhood, this integrated ongoing student assessment toolkit is designed for preschool teachers to help them focus on all aspects of a child's development, thereby giving them a way to ensure that all children in their classes are making progress. The assessment kit uses a strength-based…

This paper describes the use of Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), a movement of radical theater and popular education designed for communities sharing common oppression, to help First Nations people return to and stabilize their mother tongues. It suggests that for many First Nations people, relearning their languages involves confronting histories…

After arguing that there are substantial advantages to incorporating student play as a learning strategy in educational reform, the paper defines play, notes common misconceptions about play, examines reasons why children play, describes types of play, and looks at the function, outcome, and benefits of play. (SM)

Presents ideas for a lesson that allows elementary and secondary students to experience an iconic representation of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in the classroom. By visualizing the quilt exhibit through pictures of individual panels, students can develop a greater appreciation of the human toll taken by the AIDS epidemic. (SM)

Describes a non-graded, one-class-period activity that can help undergraduates understand and explore fundamental psychological concepts. Groups of three or four students perform short skits illustrating basic concepts (moral development, defense mechanisms, identity status) and the class tries to guess the concept. (MJP)

Describes a teaching method that provides instant assessment of student learning and allows instructors to take corrective measures in the same class period. The method is based on asking a multiple-choice question after every 10-20 minutes of lecture and getting responses from students. This methods allows all students to actively participate and…

Discusses cooperative learning in the social studies classroom, highlighting the Jigsaw Strategy--a cooperative learning technique used to encourage students to interact, exchange ideas with peers, and gain confidence in the learning process. Presents an example of its use from a grade seven unit on Canada's native people. (GEA)

Presented is data amassed from 200 participants in a successful overseas student teaching program run by Indiana University. The data addresses how stateside student teaching helps or hinders subsequent teaching practicum experiences in overseas nations. Suggested are steps which can eliminate or minimize difficulties encountered by student…

Provides suggestions for continuing library instruction while the school library media center is indefinitely closed. Discusses planning, gathering materials on a rolling cart, loaning materials to teachers, keeping records, "filler" activities, field trips to the public library, and meeting with the principal. Presents solutions to two potential…

Recommends localizing teaching about World War II through use of family stories and local histories. Outlines and discusses a specific approach to chronology and events. Concludes that the important lessons of this era lay in the postwar world it created. (MJP)

A collection of tips for teachers offers information on creative class projects; parent involvement; teacher grants; the National Student Editorial Cartoon Contest; a guide to good studying; a tribute to Christa McAuliffe; the Michael Jordan Education Club; good literature; classroom techniques; and language arts, math, and social studies…

Presents suggestions for making social studies interesting and motivating to students. The first article offers six strategies to make lessons dynamic. Several other articles go into the classroom to see how teachers are making social studies real to their students. Resources for further information are included. (SM)

The Heart Adventures Challenge Course teaches students about the circulatory system's design and functions, taking them through a model of the circulatory system in the gym. The article provides detailed instructions for presenting the unit. It describes how the course was developed and taught in a middle school. (SM)

A rap contest methodology for smoking prevention was tested with 10-14 year olds in a predominantly minority school district. Contests occurred after initial assemblies where students heard and viewed taped peer antismoking rap messages. Winning students received $25. Pre- and posttesting indicated high preference ratings for the intervention. (SM)

Home-based and school-based literacy programs are analyzed. Creative play in home-based programs is contrasted to play in the teacher-directed school. School-based literacy programs that embed academic skills in meaningful experiences are advocated. Other desirable qualities of literacy programs are considered. (DG)