In contrast to the recent back-to-basics movement, which emphasizes rote-learning and the acquisition of mechanistic skills, small-group cooperative learning emphasizes the development of thinking and problem-solving skills. It also seeks to minimize student anxiety and competition by creating an environment in which students feel safe to make and…

This pamphlet is the fourth in a series of ten stemming from the view that language is central to learning, that teachers can gain insights into their work and into learning by examining the language of the classroom, and that current language theory can be the means to such insights. The pamphlet presents a case study of a third grade student…

Monitoring school performance has become an overriding concern in American political and educational circles, and some of that scrutiny is being directed at the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES). However, there is concern that pressure to prove the effectiveness of Essential Schools may overshadow efforts to actually improve education. Taking…

This paper examines children's preferences and understanding of stories and story elements by analyzing an extensive collection of art, writing, and teacher observations of one child, Virginia. The paper traces the progession of Virginia's understanding of character, setting, action/plot, and preference for fairy tale structures as evidenced in…

Documenting the processes and procedures, this report reviews phases of development, testing, and revision of 100 modules in a set of performance-based teacher education (PBTE) curricular materials. The first of two chapters discusses the need to develop a professional development program for vocational education teachers. A two-phase process is…

Changes in work and the workplace are transforming the kinds of knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for successful work performance. Educators and school reformers are updating curricula and redesigning school programs to ensure that, in addition to academics, young people have opportunities to learn work-related skills and attitudes. A…

Designed for classroom teachers, this refereed yearbook includes examples, resources, and success stories to assist business educators to provide their students with the necessary skills for success in work and in life. Part I, Examining Business and Education Environments, contains the following chapters: "Business and Industry Need Qualified…

This journal presents four articles on gifted adolescents. The first is "Gifted and Gay: A Study of the Adolescent Experience" (Jean Sunde Peterson and Heather Rischar). This paper reports on a retrospective study of the experiences of 18 gay, lesbian, or bisexual young adults with high ability, finding themes of danger, isolation, depression, and…

The goal of the doctoral dissertation summarized here was to develop a set of recommended guidelines to be used in developing standards and procedures for elementary and secondary public school facility construction in Arizona. The study focuses on determining the essential elements of these guidelines and on determining which of these elements…

Community partnerships can increase the effectiveness of school-to-work programs. By working together, each partner organization can work smarter, share important information, build a collective set of resources, and keep its focus on its clients, the youth. Another issue pertaining to the creation of partnerships is change and why businesses…

Seven articles report on the effectiveness of suggestive instructional methods in improving learning in various academic subjects. The following reports are included: (1) "Americanizing Suggestopaedia: A Preliminary Trial in a U.S. Classroom," by Charles E. Gritton and Ray Benitez-Bordon (deals with science instruction at the eighth…

This document consists of all six issues of the "Journal of Research for School Executives" published before it was discontinued. The spring 1991 issue includes four research articles and one essay on employee discipline, school reform, experiences of state departments of education in school/college collaboration, legal aspects of…

The case can be made that school-to-work programs can be a college preparatory strategy because they can teach academic skills as well as and possibly even better than more traditional approaches. The skepticism about its potential as a means of preparing students for college is based on misconceptions about its characteristics. Its three basic…

Parental attitudes toward rewards for student behavior and academic achievement as well as toward corporal punishment were assessed. The sample consisted of 195 parents from northern Mississippi. University students administered the anonymous questionnaire. Among the results was that 75 percent queried would not approve teachers being allowed to…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 11 titles deal with the following topics: (1) the relation between classroom communication and teacher personality; (2) a survey of speech programs in Texas community colleges; (3) improving student responses by training teachers…