Outlines the learning characteristics of rural students, and describes how undergraduate and graduate courses were modified with specific procedures and activities to correspond with these learning characteristics. (SR)

Describes class activities and a summative authentic assessment for a first-semester high school French class. Describes the new paradigm of authentic learning and authentic teaching in use at this high school and its results. (SR)

Offers some advice and help for writing longer works such as a novel or a master's thesis. Discusses novel writing as a classroom project and presents several suggestions for what to write about and how to get started. Discusses novel writing for adults. (SC)

Discusses four questions that can help teachers decide how, when, and whether to change a unit, lesson, or activity to integrate computer technology: (1) will the technology enhance classroom conversation?; (2) will it validate the work of the classroom?; (3) will it validate the work of the individual?; and (4) is it worth the time and effort?…

Suggests guidelines teachers can use for implementing graphic organizers. Provides an example of such an implementation, including a short text selection, a sample script of the classroom pre-reading dialogue using a graphic organizer to introduce text selection. Discusses attributes of effective graphic organizer implementation. (SR)

Suggests the use of selected literature to explore the war in Vietnam with middle school students. Discusses the relevance of the war to contemporary students; presents an annotated bibliography of novels especially appropriate for middle school students; and suggests relevant class activities. (JPB)

Recounts the use of pets in a kindergarten classroom for children to experience pet ownership and to share the care of animals. Outlines the entire process of pet selection, program implementation, and reactions to the program. Notes that in addition to exposure to pet care, children quickly learned the days of the week and recycling concepts. (SD)

Using a comprehension-monitoring model, 192 skilled and less skilled readers from 3rd and 6th grade read stories containing inconsistent information. Half of the students constructed a storyboard representation of the stories and half only read the text. Results reveal that storyboard construction enhanced the integration of text propositions and…

Addresses ways in which children's literature promotes mathematical communication. Describes the natural connections between mathematics and children's literature. Provides a list of resources for teacher use. Describes classroom experiences and activities in which literature is a springboard for children's mathematical communication. (SR)

Describes in detail using three interactive teaching strategies that actively engage students in meaning construction and in developing comprehension strategies (K-W-L Plus, Directed Listening-Thinking Activity, and Discussion Web), with primary-grade readers, using three excellent children's books. (SR)

Advocates using African literature for general-education students, especially fiction with universalist themes and exploration of spiritual issues which students find engaging. Provides a four-day approach to studying Bessie Head's novel, "When Rain Clouds Gather." Presents questions and assignments. (PA)

Describes four approaches to improve students' abilities and inclination to think better: provide classroom learning environments that make thinking possible and students willing to engage in it; make the invisible substance of thinking visible and explicit; support student execution of newly encountered or complex thinking operations during…

Argues that the Bible is a classic in a class by itself, and discusses why secondary students need to study it. Notes legal interpretations that guide Bible teachers and students. Describes how secondary English teachers are successfully teaching the Bible in several schools across the country, and discusses literary allusions, bible versions,…

Describes two gaming strategies which teach poetry using quotations extracted from six Shakespeare plays. Discusses selecting plays and quotations, games for matching quotations, and providing synopses and introducing characters. Describes in detail learning objectives, player distribution, adjudicator role, procedures and rules, and debriefing…

An oral practice system of "chats" in the classroom functions as an extemporaneous speaking exercise or chat (without notes or prompt sheets), occurring between two students for a minute or so at the beginning of class, following which the presenters respond to other students' questions. (CNP)