This article discusses the need for activities that foster critical thinking within secondary literature-based courses. The rationale for teaching thinking skills and activities that focus on synthesis and evaluation are presented. Teachers are urged to become critical thinkers in their determination of content, process, and product choices.…

An investigation into the long- and short-term planning practices of 21 Head Start teachers found the calendar, classroom environment, schedule, and classroom activities appeared to be the primary foci of the teachers' planning decisions. Teachers primarily used personal files, curriculum books, and other teaching personnel as planning resources.…

In the current study, a constant time delay (CTD) procedure was embedded in classroom activities and routines to teach counting to three preschool children with speech and language delays. CTD was effective in teaching numbers to all three children. One child out of two also was able to acquire non-target information. (Contains references.) (CR)

The effects of using a multicomponent intervention package to support classroom performance of 4 high school students with mental retardation enrolled in general education classes were investigated. Modification of teacher-assigned worksheets, instruction in assignment completion, self-monitoring, goal evaluation, and including students in setting…

A study involving 1 urban site and 5 rural sites investigated the effectiveness of the Mustard Seed Project in training teachers to differentiate curricula for gifted students. The majority of the teachers (n=74) at each site made changes. Participants cited staff-development activities, leadership, mentoring, resources, and project support as…

Discusses underlying issues that affect all forms of teaching evaluation: determining criteria, making links between teaching methods and learning outcomes, and distinguishing between evaluation for self-improvement and evaluation for accountability. (EV)

Describes the history, goals, and applications of the teaching portfolio as an alternative teaching assessment. (EV)

Examines the role of technology in teaching evaluation, discussing the need to incorporate the principles of good evaluation practice as evaluation systems become increasingly automated. Suggests applications of technology that hold promise for improving evaluation practice, such as teacher-course evaluation systems. (EV)

Developmentalism is an educational doctrine that presumes natural development to be optimal and requires that teaching practices overcome a presumption that they interfere with an optimal developmental trajectory. It actually impedes efforts to hold schools accountable for student achievement in that it rejects or ignores research on best teaching…

Compares rationale, strengths, and weaknesses of four assessment methods used in English-as-a-Second-Language: standardized, student centered, curriculum based, and performance based. Provides a framework for developing alternative assessments that respond to audience needs, allow learner participation, and capture the richness of literacy…

Examines content-based instruction as a possible strategy for easing students' transition from beginning to advanced foreign language courses, as well as for developing students' interest in pursuing language study beyond required courses. Content-based instruction is reviewed, four common models are outlined and compared, and research findings on…

Tests retention of two types of words, words that have to be inferred and words glossed in a text in an interactive program on the Internet for the practice of reading skills for academic purposes. Confirmed theories that retention of inferred words is higher than retention of words where the meaning is given, and that incidental vocabulary…

Discusses an experiential learning situation that can successfully integrate corporate values and international growth in masters in business administration programs. Focuses on a teaching technique that emphasizes the realistic challenges that corporations face when growing an international company built on a strong ethical foundation. (Author/DB)

Medical residents were randomly assigned to either a 20-minute session on the importance of screening for domestic violence or to an unrelated topic. Subsequently, 71 percent of the trained residents diagnosed at least one case of domestic violence compared to 52 percent of residents in the control group. Rates of diagnosis also differed by…

Describes a multisensory approach to making science accessible to students with profound learning disabilities. (WRM)