Summarizes reviews of research reports on classroom practice in the "Handbook of Research on Social Studies Teaching and Learning." Examines textbooks, instructional grouping, teaching methods, and computer-assisted instruction (especially games and simulations), and civic education through student participation in community programs.…

Provides of examples of performance-based assessments in three categories: (1) projects; (2) performances; and (3) question strategy sessions. Describes a typical performance-based assessment project including setting up the project, peer evaluation, the class presentation, and the test used. (CFR)

Profiles four middle school teachers maintaining early chamber music programs. The teachers advise varying degrees of musical competency before students begin the program, but all of them caution against starting too soon. They also stress the importance of purchasing early music scores and establishing rehearsal times. (MJP)

Profiles Wynton Marsalis and discusses his work with children and music. Describes the motivation behind, and development of, the Public Broadcasting System's four-part special "Marsalis on Music." Marsalis discusses his early exposure to music and the influence of his parents. (MJP)

Sixth-grade students (n=53) were paired homogeneously and heterogeneously by ability to determine the effect of LOGO on the transfer of knowledge in geometry. Low-ability students benefited from heterogeneous grouping, whereas the impact on average- and high-ability students was not clear. (Contains 21 references.) (MDH)

Contends that a range of theories exists in the social science literature about the effects of family processes on the social and academic success of a family's offspring. Identifies major theoretical perspectives that have dominated the literature on families and minority student achievement. (CFR)

The development of a complex, highly computerized system of performance indicators by the State University of New York provides the means to monitor internal progress, report to a skeptical public, and compare the system's performance with a national sample of institutions. The system is described here, and the performance indicators and data…

Discusses the views of "Holocaust deniers" and categorizes them into two groups: (1) hard deniers; and (2) soft deniers. Maintains that Holocaust denial has no historical support. Asserts that the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is the best resource to counter the claims of the Holocaust deniers. (CFR)

Presents a high school lesson plan illustrating the breadth and scope of German anti-Semitism before and during World War II. Includes four lists describing anti-Semitic and German Jewry laws. Includes student objectives, instructional procedures, and instructions for students. (CFR)

Presents a map of Europe identifying the location of major concentration camps, extermination camps, and massacre sites during World War II. Maintains that only a few of the over 400 sites in the former Soviet Union where entire Jewish villages were exterminated are shown. (CFR)

Discusses a model program at the University of Northern Colorado for preparing secondary geography teachers. Asserts that the program's key feature is the presence of an outstanding secondary teacher in residence throughout the year who team-teaches the geography teaching methods course. (CFR)

College instruction appears to be facing a change in rules, paralleling and influenced by such "megatrends" as Total Quality Management, interest in tapping intrinsic motivation, service learning, and authentic assessment. External pressure for educational excellence, accountability, improved community, self-fulfillment, and access to information…

A large-group (110 students) pharmaceutics course, designed to use small-group case-based problem solving to address pharmaceutical manufacturing problems, is described; and student response to the course is examined. The 11 case studies used in the curriculum are summarized. The peer evaluation form is included. (MSE)

A framework is offered for institutions to use in identifying and overcoming obstacles to graduate student progress and retention. Seven aspects of graduate education that would have to be altered to reduce student frustration are examined: admissions, graduate curriculum, advising/mentoring, monitoring progress, financial support, institutional…

A theme of sharks is used to illustrate the process of developing interdisciplinary units for middle school instruction, including a model for teams of teachers to follow. As activities evolve, a concept map is created to illustrate relationships and integration of ideas and activities for various disciplines. (Contains 10 references.) (MKR)