Six articles discuss librarians as mediators in special circumstances. Highlights include the reference librarian and the information paraprofessional; effective reference mediation for nontraditional public library users, including mentally impaired patrons and illiterate adults; the academic librarian's role in the education process; and…

The Learning through Creative Writing program was developed for students with learning and emotional disabilities in grades 6-8. The program used a pen-pal correspondence activity to develop students' abilities in communication, higher level thinking skills, geographic concepts, and social studies concepts. (JDD)

Discusses writing instruction in elementary and secondary schools. Writing reforms are suggested, including increasing time spent on writing and encouraging process writing; writing across the curriculum is discussed; the use of technology is considered; and sidebars give examples of writing improvement programs. (LRW)

Depicts Poetry I, a computerized lesson designed to introduce undergraduates to poetry's fundamentals and maximize student involvement. Driven by DECTalk's verse processor, the lesson teaches poetry's concepts, directs students to write and revise a limerick, and evaluates students' work. Highlights preliminary responses that demonstrate Poetry…

Explores alternative ways teachers can serve linguistically and culturally diverse student populations. Two Philadelphia elementary teachers have successfully created learning contexts for bilingual literacy. This article describes ways they adapt their teaching for biliterate development and for the particular bilingual contexts and media of…

Describes part of a research project in France involving the second-language acquisition of young children that focuses on the use of a computer augmented with a voice synthesizer. Topics addressed include written versus spoken language; multiple sources of information; self-correction; self-esteem; memory; and speed in the learning process.…

Describes an experiential learning activity in which a Connecticut fifth grade class designated a new holiday, Friendship Day, through an essay-writing contest. The class pursued legalizing the holiday through the state legislative process, and Friendship Day is now celebrated on the fourth Sunday in April in Connecticut. Shows how the class…

Shows how United States history can be used for stimulating imaginative writing assignments about civic and cultural heritage. Shares how asking for revisions of first drafts developed students' writing skills. Shares one example of a student's writing. (MG)

Describes study of English education undergraduates at West Virginia University that measured attitudes toward and perceived uses of computers before and after a course on computers and writing. Prior computer experience, computer anxiety, and concerns about computers are examined, and pretreatment and posttreatment results are compared. (16…

Presents the case study of an African-American woman returning to a basic skills program in an inner-city community college, examining in particular a writing conference with the task of transforming telling of an experience into writing about it. (SLD)

This experimental study explored whether, and to what extent, differences in gender and experience with word processing affect how students perceive their classroom environment in high school writing classes. Treatment of experimental and control groups is described, and the classroom environment questionnaire for the experimental…

Discusses ways to improve postsecondary library instruction based on theories of active learning. Topics include a historical background of active learning; student achievement and attitudes; cognitive development; risks; active teaching; and instructional techniques, including modified lectures, brainstorming, small group work, cooperative…

The study investigated the use of case-based pedagogy to develop critical reflection in prospective teachers. Analysis of students written analyses of dilemma-based cases found patterns showing evidence of students open-mindedness, sense of professional responsibility, and wholeheartedness in approach to teaching. (DB)

Offers three strategies from "Strategies for Teaching: Guide for Music Methods Classes," that was developed under the leadership of MENC's Society for Music Teacher Education. Gives guidelines for methods teachers to prepare their students for incorporating the National Standards for Music Education into music instruction at all grade…

This cross sectional study used verbal protocol analysis to compare the temporal distribution of formulation processes of Spanish English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) writers composing first and second language (L1, L2) argumentative texts. Studied three groups at different levels of second language proficiency. Results showed the same total…