Presents three student exercises that demonstrate common perceptual errors described in social psychological literature: actor-observer effect, false consensus bias, and priming effects. Describes methods to be followed and gives terms, sentences, and a story to be used in the exercises. Suggests discussion of the bases and impact of such…

An almanac of activities helps elementary students learn about rights in their lives. The activity book focuses on the Bill of Rights and on student rights in the home, school, and community. It includes posters, student activities, resource lists, and teaching aids. (SM)

Presents suggestions for developing a thematic teaching unit to help students overcome fear by learning about the courage of survivors in literature. The article recommends reading a story aloud, discussing courage and survival of the characters, and developing group-guided reading activities that involve individual or group projects. (SM)

Presents math activities, problems, and games for teaching elementary students to recognize the world's natural symmetry and understand the mathematical qualities it represents; suggests activities with construction paper, blocks, and calculators. Instructions for using the calculator to create palindromes are included. (SM)

Asserts that the key to incorporating music effectively into the English classroom is to provide a context for the music. Describes a teacher's introduction to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" that demonstrates one way to use music and which helps accomplish the goals of the literary unit. (PRA)

Suggests that children's imaginations are not shrinking. Discusses seven ways in which English teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors have used adolescent literature in creative and imaginative ways. (RS)

Discusses business etiquette and addresses such issues as making introductions, speaking effectively, and managing social functions. Determines students' needs, surveys personnel managers, and offers suggestions for integrating social skills into business communication and other business courses. (PRA)

Discusses collaborative learning and group work. Asserts that teachers often put pressure on a group so that students cannot communicate freely. Suggests changing evaluative markers from good and bad to most outrageous, most thought provoking, and most humorous, so that students' creative energy can flow. Includes transcripts of student…

Discusses the use of lists and classification in poetry throughout history. Gives examples of lists in verse from Elizabethan to modern times. Offers some basic types and functions of the "list poem." Relates the lists poems of a fourth grade class. (PRA)

Asserts that intermediate grade teachers should use poetry in the classroom. Offers criteria for selecting poetry, guidelines for its presentation, and strategies for involving the students. (PRA)

Describes a study in New South Wales (Australia) that used cable-linked notebook computers as a notetaking system for hearing-impaired students. The Phones for the Deaf Program is explained, and benefits of the notebook computer system are discussed, including greater efficiency, less intrusiveness, and more complete classroom participation. (LRW)

Presents strategies for incorporation into elementary level spelling programs to help students become real-world spellers. The article explains how to make spelling part of the writing process by expanding the word bank, improving proofreading skills, building dictionary skills, and conducting a roundup spelling test to practice new skills. (SM)

Presents an inexpensive class activity to teach elementary students about light reflection off various surfaces. The activity involves aluminum foil, waxed paper, magazine pages, newspapers, overhead transparency film, construction paper, fabric, and a hand lens. A student page includes questions to make students think about reflection. (SM)

Texas has opened the door to electronic instructional media, allowing science students new ways to explore the world. Hands-on activities make science concepts real. Videodiscs provide teachers with rich instructional material, displaying still shots, graphics, and film clips on monitors. Students can now explore extreme weather conditions,…

Regardless of who publishes it, the campus or alumni magazine belongs to alumni. Specific alumni information can be included as either a separate piece, association agendas, reports of gatherings, class notes, personality profiles, celebrity features, or as an expanded alumni section. Examples from alumni magazines across the country illustrate…