Presented are ideas for small, inexpensive, often portable "mini" learning centers covering many elementary school subjects. The minicenters are designed for containment in boxes and bags or on art easels. (SJL)

This paper explores personalised learning, which is a "new" teaching and learning style in the Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners launched by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) for England in 2004. The research was based on semi-structured interviews with 13 teachers mainly in charge of Key Stage 3 at two 11-18…

Three substitute teachers give six suggestions for making substitute teachers feel more welcome, more effective, and more useful. (MT)

Describes how to organize a large second-language class so that all students can participate in games or activities better suited to smaller groups. Also offers a partial list of games and activities. (EKN)

Focuses on some ideas for improving the quality and applicability of instruction provided in the marketing and distributive education-related class. Discusses sources of instruction, instructional ideas for the related class, weekly job reports, and a suggested schedule for the related class. (CT)

Briefly describes three new research studies focusing on the following aspects of teaching: planning, standardized tests, and teacher observation. (CM)

This study examined whether gender influenced college students' attitudes regarding classroom seating layout. Seating layouts included: a) rows of tablet-arm chairs, b) U-shaped, c) clusters, and d) rows of tables with individual chairs. The sample consisted of 912 college students. Factor analysis yielded two dimensions: "Feeling at Ease" and…

A large proportion of teachers throughout the world teach in multigrade classrooms, or classes with more than one grade level. It is reliably predicted that the number of multigrade classes will increase in the future. This paper addresses the issue of teacher education for multigrade. The main thesis of this paper is that the professional…

Retirement savings decisions can be influenced by the fund composition of the retirement savings plan. In 2 experiments, strong composition effects were observed, with a larger percentage of resources being invested in stock funds when more stock than bond funds were offered. Although participants changed their allocations repeatedly, the…

Presents the negative effects the classroom, as a way of structuring education, has on teachers and students, and suggests reorganizing the schools along the lines of research hospitals. (IRT)

Scheduling guidelines for teachers of severely handicapped students include that instruction should be activity-based and that interaction with nonhandicapped peers should be maximized. Characteristics of the students (physical limitations, age, and reinforcing activities) and of administration (necessary daily activities, personnel, regular…

The computer assisted instruction (CAI) program at the California School for the Deaf, at Fremont, features individual Apple computers in classrooms as well as in CAI labs. When the whole class uses computers simultaneously, the teacher can help individuals, identify group weaknesses, note needs of the materials, and help develop additional CAI…

Cites benefits of using teacher aides in the classroom and discusses four important aspects of the aide-teacher relationship. Condensed from "North Carolina Education," January-February 1981, p2. (Editor/SJL)

Describes one school's experience taking a production on tour. Tells what happened during their preparation period, the choices that they made, and the answers to the statement "If I had to do over again...." Presents 11 lessons learned from their experience. Notes that touring a show teaches students invaluable lessons. (SG)

Use of the "Preschool Assessment of the Classroom Environment" (PACE) scale is described. Its use in a pilot study involving 20 preschool classrooms indicated that different aspects of the management, organization, and operation of classroom environments were significantly related to both caregiver and child outcomes. (Author/DB)