Suggests guidelines to instructors for selecting novels as supplemental readings for studying other cultures in sociology classes. Recommends assignments that will evidence the plausibility of the life experiences described. Discusses victim and victor blaming and author's bias. Advises that the novel should reflect the culture of the setting with…

Discusses the value of children's trade books to introduce social studies concepts and themes. Suggests special benefit to non-English-speaking four year olds. Argues that the approach provides children with a common bond and language, stimulus for intellectual and social interaction, and comprehensive connection for all parts of the curriculum.…

Presents elementary school science activities with a Halloween orientation. One activity teaches students to appreciate and understand bats. A second activity has students group and classify monsters by individual characteristics. Activities for integrating science across the curriculum include creating monster myths, conducting surveys of…

Study examined how learning computer applications in group settings affected individual achievement and attitudes, noting group processes demonstrated by students in a college computer course who participated in individual or group conditions. Pre- and posttesting indicated no between-group differences in achievement or attitude, suggesting group…

Data from 104 participants in the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Self-Help Course showed that patients had significant increases in enabling skills and use of relaxation/exercise and decreases in depression. Amount of time spent in class was correlated with significant changes over time. (SK)

Interviews with policymakers, administrators, students, and faculty about portfolio assessment found that all groups questioned its academic integrity, all lacked sufficient information, and leaders did not attempt to institutionalize the process. However, students derived important personal benefits. (SK)

Describes five classroom activities: helping students use strong nouns, strong verbs, and right adjectives; using acrostic poems for research reporting; improving student response in directed-reading (and directed-listening) thinking activities; using semantic mapping and cooperative groups to build descriptive writing; and math synonyms. (RS)

Describes how two English teachers revised their instruction in light of their discoveries about the needs of the workplace. Provides details about several facets of the new curriculum, including writing/reading workshops, research papers, and mentor/community service projects. (HB)

Describes the results of a survey of classroom read-aloud practices in the United States. Contrasts read-aloud practices with a "model" of what they might be. (PRA)

A kindergarten teacher recounts her classroom experience introducing children to reading via the whole language approach, which is based on the belief that children learn to read and write naturally by listening, watching, speaking, and writing. Classroom photographs and samples of student work illustrate the article. (DB)

There are several points to be considered to prevent misuse when integrating microcomputing into the assessment process. Computerizing an activity does not automatically improve that activity. Computer use is appropriate for computing test scores and storing student data but not for interpreting data. (JDD)

Provides an overview of issues concerned with the design and use of computer-based simulations. Learning processes are discussed, and the SIMULATE project, which was developed to design an integrated set of authoring tools for the construction of an intelligent simulation learning environment (ISLE), is described. (15 references) (LRW)

Presented are the results of two pilot studies about multidigit addition and subtraction. The results are discussed in relation to possible alternative sequences in the teaching of addition and subtraction and the relationship between basic fact mastery and numeration concept attainment. (CW)

Ten evaluation models are examined in terms of their applicability to investigative, emergent design programs: Stake's portrayal, Wolf's adversary, Patton's utilization, Guba's investigative journalism, Scriven's goal-free, Scriven's modus operandi, Eisner's connoisseurial, Stufflebeam's CIPP, Tyler's objective based, and Levin's cost…

Israeli programs that have been used to teach children to read Hebrew braille are described, and a reading scheme called "Secrets and Surprises" is presented. The method uses an eclectic approach, emphasizes comprehension and the communicative element of reading, and offers a variety of presentation modes to meet individual students'…