Discusses the use of film in the classroom as a tool for second-language instruction. Argues that controversial subject matter, such as sex, violence, and profane language, can enhance students' learning experience and deepen their critical thinking skills if treated sensitively and in a pedagogically sound manner. (12 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses the use of Post-it Notes as effective teaching devices. Presents activities that use Post-it Notes including concept mapping, molecular modeling, group activities illustrating multi-step biological processes, and genetics activities. Highlights the use of the constructivist approach. (JRH)

Presents an alternative to using a single-class-period test to assess a college student's knowledge in the mathematics area. Evaluation of student mathematical knowledge and understanding of concepts is improved when students are given opportunities to design problems and solutions, applying classroom-acquired knowledge to new situations. Such…

The feasibility of tutor-based assessments in cognitive skills, functional literacy, and literacy-related self-confidence was studied through assessment batteries completed by 38 tutors from curriculum-based or learner-centered literacy programs for adults. It is recommended that such assessments be incorporated into tutor training workshops to…

A case study approach taken with three years of data on a hospital's trauma program indicate that, although service user data is important, its political importance far outweighs evaluation value and utility, especially for hard-to-access samples. Implications of this challenge to traditional assumptions for program evaluation are discussed. (SLD)

Notes that 32 preschool children were trained to a high level in phonemic awareness over a 12-week period, and then in kindergarten, the children were taught 10 real words using either decoding and encoding techniques or a whole word method. Finds that children taught decoding and encoding techniques were superior in reading and writing compared…

NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards are often invoked to support many kinds of educational practices; however, the Standards were not written as a prescription for teaching and learning. Instead of taking the Standards literally, educators should use common sense to judge how to use them in individual situations. Includes case study…

Focuses on mental strategies for computing in the middle grades. Describes what they are and why they are important. Refers to relevant research and presents some teaching ideas for developing these strategies beyond the primary grades. Includes a discussion of the role of mental calculation in everyday life both past and future. Contains 27…

Mental arithmetic strategies were studied with 91 Dutch third graders who computed by splitting off 10s and units in both numbers or counting by 10s up or down from the first unsplit number. Results reveal flexibility in changing between and within strategy use. Implications for instruction are discussed. (SLD)

Reviews challenges to evaluation that are presented by integrated school-based services. Describes field-based evaluation approaches designed to yield valid and useful information about such programs. Calls for multistage evaluation approaches which includes qualitative and quantitative and process and outcome evaluations. Places emphasis on…

Fitness runs are planned activities that make running more interesting. The paper outlines five types of fitness runs, all of which can be modified to conform to different facilities, age groups, or available time. The activities have students playing detective, playing cards, deciphering words, learning about calories, and playing wolf. (SM)

Describes the Orava Project in Slovakia, a school reform project involving the University of Northern Iowa in collaboration with Slovakian teachers and institutions, to prepare citizens for democracy. Describes how, with literacy instruction at its core, the project is working with pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary teachers, and with school…

This article reviews routine-based teaching and monitoring and offers guidelines for using these strategies to track the progress of individual children with disabilities. The Individual Activity-Objective Matrix and the Group-Objective Matrix are explained as ways to help teachers to structure opportunities for a child to learn and practice…

Four individuals with agrammatic aphasia were trained to comprehend and produce filler-gap sentences with wh-movement. Two participants received treatment first on the least complex structure (who-questions), and 2 received treatment on the most complex form (object-relative constructions). Object-relative training resulted in robust…

This study compared effectiveness of word sorts on word recognition, pseudo-word recognition, phonological awareness, and spelling among 16 children with mental retardation or undiagnosed reading problems. Both groups completed sorts successfully, but children without disabilities made greater gains on a pseudo-word naming task. (Contains…