Describes a simple introductory in-class writing assignment that serves to clarify the multiple issues involve in effective letter writing of the persuasive type. Examines the diagnostic value, the lesson learned, and objectives served by such an assignment. (KEH)

Considers the rationale for and some of the uses of portfolios in an educational context. Discusses assessment and teacher education uses for portfolios and offers portfolio development guidelines. (MG)

Describes a four-step process by which teachers can select and present stories in the reading/language arts classroom. Discusses three storytelling-related strategies (Directed Listening-Thinking Activity, Storytelling Maps, and Folktale Updates) useful for developing reading/listening comprehension and vocabulary. Presents procedures for…

A group of Ohio teachers of deaf students received in-depth training in the use of whole-language strategies, focusing first on writing strategies, followed by reading instruction and integration of reading and writing. The training plan involved group instruction, reading materials, observations, individual conferences, teacher-trainer dialogue…

The severity of phonological involvement of 20 phonologically impaired children (ages 5-9) was compared using 5 measures: phonological deviance scores, percent consonants correct based on either connected speech or single words, and perceptual ratings from elementary education majors and graduate students in speech-language pathology. All five…

Outlines the techniques of four skills in using slides in an English-as-a-Second-Language classroom, and considers the possibility of using teacher or student-made slides generated by special projects. (14 references) (GLR)

New and emerging perspectives of educational contexts of literacy are reviewed that emphasize the inseparability and reciprocal influence of literacy practices with the social and ideological agendas of the communities, institutions, and settings in which the literacy practices are embedded. Research on conversational contexts of literacy…

Describes the creation of the Cold Fusion Archive at Cornell University and raises questions about documenting how scientific knowledge is created, diffused, and evaluated. Types of materials collected are described; issues involving the acquisition, organization, and preservation of materials are addressed; and the scope and limitations of…

Offers a rebuttal to Giyoo Hatano's commentary on a study on sociomoral development in the kindergarten classroom. It is suggested that the danger in restricting evaluation to stated goals is that unintended negative effects will not be recognized. (LB)

Part I describes the presentation of six different proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem by groups of three students in a party atmosphere. Part II delineates the analysis behind a student conjecture concerning the area of certain closed polar-coordinate figures. Part III proposes a categorical worksheet for determining when to apply the proper rule…

A system of scoring food intake that can be used to encourage students to make more intelligent decisions regarding their diets is presented. A sampling of points assigned to a variety of foods, a copy of a typical student diet record, and an example on how to calculate scores are included. (KR)

Experiences with an instructional strategy which enabled students to build for themselves the appropriate scientific concept for energy are described. This was done by pupil/teacher dialogue in small groups, in which students were expected to create for themselves a "generalization mechanism" based on their own frameworks. (KR)

Described is a way in which elementary science methods students experience the Generative Learning Model (GLM) from the learner's perspective and then analyze an activity about pendulums through the eyes of the pedagogue. The four phases of the GLM--preliminary, focus, challenge, and application--are discussed. (KR)

Science content, related laboratory skills and techniques, and methods of instruction are addressed as important components in the preparation of secondary science teachers. The integration of field experiences throughout the preparation process and the effectiveness of each component in this process are discussed. (KR)

Dialogue journals called learning logs were written by hearing-impaired students and responded to by their math teachers. The logs were used to monitor classroom behavior, check for math comprehension, assess attitudes, predict performance, discuss student progress, and reinforce positive math behaviors. (JDD)