This report describes a molecular biotechnology-based laboratory curriculum developed to accompany an undergraduate genetics course. During the course of a semester, students researched the pathogen, developed a research question, designed experiments, and performed transcriptional analysis of a set of genes that confer virulence to the food-borne…

The article offers tips on introducing percussion activities in elementary music class. Percussion equipment should be treated as musical instruments and not toys, teaching correct names, playing techniques and notation for the instruments. Active listening experiences for students should be planned, including band music. Band music incorporates…

Library media staff can hold poetry festivals, which would help in developing the interest of the students in poetry and assist them in displaying their literary talents. Poetry can be studied in classrooms, where students are asked to create tunes and write simple lyrics, participation of the students in reading the poetries loudly in the…

This paper presents a class activity which aims to help students prepare both for the intellectual and the interpersonal work. On the first day of class, students are asked to read and reflect upon "Listening to Understand." Subsequently, they are then asked to discuss their responses in a small group and then later on in a large group discussion,…

In this article, the author discusses how to motivate students and put fun back in the classroom. Through the inservice training on a Basic Intensive Week in William Glasser's Choice Theory, he learns that human beings are motivated by five basic human needs, fun, being one of them, is the genetic reward for learning. However, what is fun for one…

Participants (6- and 7-year-olds, "N" = 130) participated in classroom activities four times. Children were interviewed about the final occurrence (target event) either 1 week or 4 weeks later, during which half of the event items were described inaccurately. Half of these suggestions were consistent with the theme of the detail across…

This article suggests that there is a tendency to argue for or against bilingual education in terms of productivity (student attainment expressed as test scores), and that productivity is discussed in terms of division of time, curriculum and speakers. Although this orientation has produced some valuable macro-level accounts, it does not address…

March is a time of such springtime exuberance that it can be hard for children to sit still for group time. This makes March the perfect month to try new ways of inviting children to show and tell--and share. Reflection is an important part of sharing. Take a moment to remember what the group was like at the beginning of the year considering its…

In this article, the author presents lively and interesting ideas on renewing children's interest in group-time meetings. Come springtime, teachers usually find that interest is flagging at their class group-time meetings. It is at this time of year that children often need something extra special to inspire and motivate them in the classroom. The…

In this article, the author discusses group-time meetings for children as a way of helping them reflect on what has happened over the past school year and look ahead to new experiences. By inviting children to talk about their experiences over the past year, one can help them recognize and think about the changes that have taken place during the…

One of the most important skills for children to develop in the kindergarten year is the recognition that letters and sounds are related. It is often called "the alphabetic principle"--the notion that speech sounds can be connected to letters in a predictable way. To grasp the alphabetic principle, children need to understand that: (1) letters…

This article discusses the grid system as a strategy for enhancing the skill of striking in physical education. A grid system is a box or rectangle-defined space in which students practice specific skills or strategies in pairs or small groups. Here, the author provides sample activities that can be used with grids to teach striking skills for…

In this article, the author contends that in order to fulfill music education's purpose of developing a child's capacity to make and experience music, attention must be paid to developing listening in performance ensemble classes. Music educators cannot assume that being involved in the refinement and performance of music contributes to becoming a…

While we often assume media are highly effective tools for learning, research shows an unpredictable relationship between text and audience response, with variable interpretation being the norm. This can be especially problematic in anthropology, whose central goal is to understand different cultures; some studies suggest that films may reinforce…

Educators agree that the best way to instill poetry appreciation in elementary students is to use poetry in the classroom every day, while some teachers cheerfully use poetry daily, others ignore it because of their own negative attitudes toward poetry or because of a lack of time due to pressures of preparing for standardized testing.…