Designed for college instructors and administrators, this 14-chapter monograph discusses the education of adult learners who are returning to school and working toward undergraduate or advanced degrees. Chapter I examines the number of adults who are returning to college, trends since 1945, and the information sources used in preparing the…

As part of a series on implementing competency-based education, this monograph examines methods of creating learning environments that enhance student motivation. After introductory material on the importance of motivation to student learning, the monograph discusses the value of: (1) identifying student perceptions; (2) securing and maintaining…

When they write on topics with personal meaning and read one another's papers to see whether they are communicating, even hard-to-teach students recognize the power of language and their ability to use it. An 11-item reference list is provided. (Author/DCS)

This set of materials for training elementary school children in social skills includes a book which explains the Skillstreaming program, a student manual, a collection of program forms, and a box of skill cards for use with students. After an introductory chapter, chapter 2 examines Skillstreaming's history and development. chapter 3 presents…

This brief highlights some of the reasons that low motivation may prevent students from reaching their full educational potential. It begins with a discussion of some of the factors that contribute to this problem, including lack of relevance, fear of failure, learning problems, lack of challenge, and emotional distress. Most of the brief is…

This book offers strategies for high school teachers that provide tools for creating, repairing, and tweaking all the discernible components of teaching. The book is organized to move from context to teaching to discipline to thriving in teaching. The book includes tips on how to minimize discipline problems with effective curriculum and sound…

This book uses humorous cartoons and commentary on giftedness to provide parents with information on the characteristics, challenges, and joys of parenting a gifted child. Characteristics of gifted children that are highlighted include advanced intellectual ability, verbal proficiency, curiosity, creativity, high energy, focus, passion, and…

Describes the field experience component of a course for preservice English teachers called "Language in the Secondary Classroom," in which preservice teachers collaborate as equals with high school students, experiencing for themselves the real potential of adolescent learners and the contexts which allow for that potential to emerge.…

Discusses the need to create a learning environment in the computer lab that encourages students to "dabble." Benefits include increased student motivation, help for special needs students, and a decrease in truancy. Presents answers to possible objections to this form of student-directed learning and provides tips for running a lab efficiently.…

Suggestions are offered for implementing a collaborative approach to teaching self-questioning and applying this approach to foster the self-regulated learner. Collaborative self-questioning was used in two settings: with adults who were poor readers and with fourth- and fifth-grade students with learning and language disabilities. (SW)

Includes seven articles that discuss how to motivate middle school, junior high, and senior high school students to read. Highlights include problems in encouraging recreational reading; magazines; activities to promote books and reading; an annotated bibliography of books on Columbus and other explorers; women's history activities; and gender…

The Socratic method of teaching, which uses open-ended questions asked in a logical sequence, is discussed. Suggestions for structuring curriculum content around seven adult learning principles and Socratic process analysis systems for student motivation are included. (SLW)

Advice for doctoral students and fledgling educational researchers presents the following suggestions: (1) use what is known about problem finding to choose a dissertation topic, (2) be persistent in productivity and in the face of discouragement, and (3) replace the typical dissertation structure with a more functional one. (SLD)

This article explores the possibility of linking essential skills within elementary content areas to Algozzine and Ysseldyke's model of effective instruction. Specifically, suggestions are offered for using handwriting and art to express ideas and feelings. The suggestions address the teaching principles of motivating students and providing…

Describes instructional methods to make mathematics relevant to middle level students without inducing math anxiety. Discusses methods to prevent negative math experiences at the middle level, including discussing negative attitudes through math autobiographies, math self-talk, and journals; reducing anxiety through cooperative-learning…