These eight articles describe successful public library programs for teens. Highlights include programs emphasizing immigrants' cultures; viewing film adaptations from appropriate books; summer book discussion groups; using music to promote reading; using teen and senior citizen volunteers to help restore books; teens as computer tutors for other…

Children are naturally curious, and try to make meaning of the world around them. They love to watch things grow and take note of dramatic changes in science and nature. The authors discuss how one can support children's investigations, as well as their growing capacity to notice and understand growth and change. The authors present some exciting…

Playing the Play describes the experiences of a storyteller and teacher of literature who created a literature-based literacy program at Concourse House, a homeless shelter in Bronx, New York, for women and their young children. This program is based on the belief that pleasure is the primary reason children want to learn to read, and that where…

Describes an experimental drama laboratory using a new course called "Scenario" which is designed to help those who speak sub-standard English improve their command of the language. A model scenario, commentary on the drama-lab approach, description of video taping lab, outline of class procedure, and sample coaching and critique cards are…

Suggests that drama provides an excellent opportunity for children to learn about history, especially children who have not yet reached the formal operational level of development. Describes a program coordinated with a historical museum in which children reenact a school day in 1888. (ARH)

Explores the implications of envisioning theater and drama in education as a "laboratory for learning," citing that Theatre-In-Education fits the laboratory model by integrating formal theater as aesthetic experience with informal drama as a learning medium. (MM)

Describes materials mastery and symbolic development as two discrete but related processes that preschool children learn. Uses the preschool setting to identify the developmental stages of construction play. (AS)

The relationship of play and language to development of the sense of self is examined. The value of playful, affectively charged interchanges between caregivers and children is highlighted, and guidelines are established to determine a child's level of development. An intervention model is proposed for children developmentally delayed in terms of…

By allowing college students of German to write and perform their own plays, it added a tremendous boost to their interest in speaking a foreign language. This motivated them to do what they would ordinarily have done with great reluctance--memorize a text and engage in an intensive, goal-oriented activity in German, outside the language…

The author describes ACT (Acting Out Central Theme), a method for dealing with psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains in slow readers. The ACT approach involves three sessions which focus on discussion of a theme such as friendship, presentaton of the theme as a skit, and assignment of topics to individual students. (SW)

Creative dramatics has potential as a therapeutic recreational tool with special populations. Informal dramatic activities such as characterizations with hats, fantasizing, and improvised television commercials can be learned by students and applied in hospitals and nursing homes. (JN)

Highlights a music program for students with deafness that allows them to explore music in ways that are hands-on and visual. The formation of a sign choir that integrated students with deafness and hearing students is also described as well as an interactive deaf/hearing drama group. (CR)

Observed Anglo- and Korean-American preschoolers during free play and experimental toy play. Found that Korean-Americans' play included everyday activity and family role themes, whereas Anglo-Americans' play enacted danger and fantastic themes. Anglo-Americans described their own actions and used directives, whereas Korean Americans described…

In this interview with a Florida kindergarten teacher, the whole language philosophy is used to help elementary students learn skills through ongoing reading and writing activities. Thematic units are used to encourage teacher facilitation and peer teaching. (DG)

Discusses ways to motivate students to learn through the use of textbooks. Suggests several activities designed to increase student motivation and interest. These include presenting textbook topics in the form of games, group work, and performing plays and puppet shows. Emphasizes the importance of coaching and praise. (RW)