This article considers innovative research in neuroscience and psychology showing that we need to transform environmental storytelling, moving away from stories focused on awareness raising, to ones which develop people's capacity for action. We investigate how this knowledge might be applied in an environmental education context, developing a…

This handbook presents the fundamentals of successful study circle leadership. It also includes pointers for study circle organizers and participants, concluding with a comparison of dialogue and debate--a guide for distinguishing study circles from other types of discussion. The guide contains seven sections that cover the following topics: (1)…

This guide was developed to help train leaders of small-group, democratic, highly participatory discussions known as "study circles." The guide is organized in two parts. The first part presents the basics of study circle leadership, and is written for participants in the training. It includes information on what a study circle is, tips…

Describes a group project from a course on rural, countercultural communitarians' attempts to create utopian communities. Explains that the project gives students the opportunity to integrate material from a variety of sources and to apply it to a group term paper. Suggests that the project utilizes experiential methods for learning abstract…

The author presents a series of eight lessons designed to teach the skill of communicating ideas through discussion. The importance of an accepting atmosphere is emphasized, along with the teacher's role as a model. (CL)

It is helpful to elicit sentences using "binders" and to examine their properties together, especially when the indigenous language has textual and logical processes different from those of English. Such a procedure increases students' awareness of the delicacy of the clause/sentence grammar which pivots around these difficult words. (Author)

Describes preparation and implementation of a lesson using student activity, material in the textbook, and the concept of the time line to teach the chronological order of events in history. The lesson is designed for use by junior high school students during one class period. (CK)

Presents an activity for students to investigate equal parts and area and the connection between area and fractions. Highlights the importance of such a lesson in which children explore rich mathematical ideas, share their thinking and their work with one another, and make connections to other mathematical ideas. (ASK)

Presents ideas for teaching basic skills. Includes strategies for teaching about human rights, directions for making an adding machine to use in addition and subtraction drill, activities for developing effective discussion skills, and suggestions for teaching place-name geography. (JMB)

Literature circles generally involve four or five students who are actively engaged in cooperative learning. Learners choose a library book to read based on interest. The same titled paperback might be discussed by participants in the literature circle. Alternative suggestions for literature circles include choosing a library book on a similar…

A teacher of middle school deaf students describes the use of literature study circles to encourage reading. The study circles encourage self-selection of reading materials, build a sense of community, help students to learn open-ended group discussion techniques, and foster thinking skills. (DB)

The article describes a cooperative learning activity to help mildly handicapped students learn specific study strategies. The activity involves silent reading followed by small group discussion, generation of questions, answering the questions, and use of the student-generated questions on a follow-up exam. (DB)

Graduate students studying personnel evaluation were each assigned to interview three professionals regarding their experiences with personnel evaluation. Five interview questions, common across the 12 class members, were supplied. In class, students were formed into groups, a chairperson and recorder were selected for each group, and an agenda…

Based on the SEFAM (Supporting Extended Family Members) program, the manual is intended to help organize a program for fathers of handicapped young children. A program for fathers and infants focuses on unique father concerns and resources. The first chapter further explores reasons for father programs while the second describes program components…

This booklet, developed by England's Department for Education and Employment, provides information and teaching strategies to support the teaching of speaking and listening skills and develop confidence as speakers and listeners, by providing models, carefully planned activities and tasks that promote different kinds of talk and listening, and…