Provides a summary of the controversial "Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia" (part of "An Interim Report to the Commissioner by the Conference on Fair Use"), which recommends guidelines for instructors and students who create educational multimedia projects. Defines a framework in which writing-classroom participants can comprehend,…

Suggests classroom pen pals as a good Internet activity for elementary school students. Highlights include Web sites that host pen-pal information; visiting schools; Web sites; educational listservs; safety tips to discuss before sending e-mail; and suggested topics and activities. (LRW)

Considers current research on students' intertextual encounters. Examines the relationship between intertextuality and inquiry learning and how developing pedagogy on the basis of these fields provides students with larger arenas in which to make intellectual connections. Evaluates benefits of multitext inquiry by describing how at-risk urban…

Examines the rationale and related research supporting inclusion of the arts in secondary English and history courses. Looks at examples from a classroom teacher's experience in including drama, painting, and music into the literature curriculum. (RS)

Describes class activities that combine reading-prediction strategies with various graphs that quantify and make visual representations of those predictions, strengthening both reading and mathematical knowledge. Describes learning about whole numbers (picto/bar graphs), multiples (bar graphs), fractions (pie graphs), and percents (pie graphs).…

Presents an approach to word study instruction, wordsorting, based on recent spelling research. Reviews research that support the conceptual and developmental nature of learning to spell. Presents a conceptual framework consistent with research findings. Explains variations in word sorting activities, describes basic components and extensions, and…

Describes how process problems were integrated into a Parent-Teacher Organization newsletter as a means of getting families involved in problem solving. Discusses methods of generating problems and preparing solutions. The ideas presented worked well for getting parents involved and are applicable to classroom instruction. (Author/CCM)

The TeachNet Project expands the successful mentoring model developed by IMPACT-II, The Teachers Network. Project components include identifying teachers to serve as trainers, awarding grants, and developing an online database of innovative activities. The TeachNet Web site offers access to a database of curriculum resources and interactive…

Describes a celebration developed by children, staff, and parents at Morris L. Eisenstein Learning Center (Brooklyn, New York) to share the customs of Diwali, Hannukah, Loi Krathong, Kwanzaa, Nacimiento, and Christmas with the diverse student population. Includes brief descriptions of each holiday and activities included in the center's…

Highlights the career and work of James Stevenson, author and illustrator of children's books. Presents suggestions for extension activities. Includes a selected annotated bibliography of his picture books, titles from some of his series, autobiographical picture books, illustrations, poetry, and fiction, as well as books about James Stevenson.…

Argues that including study of family relationships in adult development and aging courses is desirable because family members are key sources of support throughout adulthood. Includes suggestions for course activities, and instructor and student resources related to family gerontology. (DSK)

Discusses (1) a rationale for using young adult literature with adolescent English-as-a-Second-Language learners; (2) an approach to teaching the novel "Make Lemonade" by Virginia Euwer Wolff; (3) activities in which students engaged and samples of their work; and (4) implications for teachers who explore young adult literature with…

Discusses how creating a musical climate in early childhood classrooms can give children a way to express feelings and ideas, and can smoothly blend the activities and routines of the classroom day. Provides suggestions for making new songs from old and creating new songs. Includes sample songs. (KB)

Describes how to develop elementary school class activities centered around conflict resolution based on their reading assignments. Discusses how characters resolve conflicts; acting out examples of conflicts; group activities; assessment; and possible extension activities. (LRW)

Describes what CD-ROM talking books are and how they foster young children's literacy development. Notes teachers' questions and concerns about CD-ROM talking books, and why teachers should consider using them. Offers 12 suggestions for activities with talking books, organized at different interaction levels: initial level, fluency and…