Discusses three recent books that focus on discussion as a way of engaging children, of helping them deepen their understandings of themselves and the books they read, and of structuring a literature-based curriculum that supports their comprehension and critical reading development. (SR)

Discusses how to teach people to think, examining how reflective thinking occurs in interpretive discussion and emphasizing interpretive discussions found in all classrooms at all levels. Presents a musical example, a literary example, and a classroom conversation to support the hypothesis that questions evolve as a cluster, growing as discussants…

Discusses various issues concerning reading literature in the elementary classroom, under the following section heads: "Adding to Your Alphabet,""Working with the Transitional Reader,""Reading Aloud to the Very Young,""Leading to Lively Conversation," and "Enriching the Teaching of Science." (TB)

This article examines some of the characteristics of a person who is morally well developed. Two of the commonly held theories of moral development are discussed, along with the possible moral problems of gifted adolescents. Finally, ways that educators can help gifted adolescents develop their full potential are provided. (Contains references.)…

According to a growing body of research, discussion-based instruction, in the context of high academic demands, significantly enhances student achievement in reading. The effects apply to below- as well as above-average-ability students. These findings confirm what secondary English teachers have believed all along about the value of discussion.…

The benefits of a study group to help faculty develop their competencies and expand their awareness of professional issues are described. Specifically, the Fargo Study Group, which included seven physicians interested in improving their instructional capabilities, is considered. The participants were responsible for teaching medical students in…

There has been much discussion recently of the effect that gender and learning style have on student performance. Educators have attempted to develop new teaching and assessment strategies that accommodate a variety of learning styles, and both males and females are becoming more aware of gender-related traits and their relationship to classroom…

James Berlin has idenitified three common ideological approaches in rhetoric in composition courses crucial to an understanding of how collaborative learning works in writing courses: the expressivist, cognitivist, and social-epistemic. One of the primary distinctions among these rhetorics is how the subject is perceived. In an expressionist or…

The nature of communication in the counterculture was investigated. The counterculture is distinguished from subculture and contraculture by its attempts to modify, change, and alter the dominant culture. A food co-op, which presented itself as being based on counterculture philosophy was studied as a representative organization within the…

Discusses how educational philosopher Joseph Schwab's conception of theory applies to curriculum development. Subtopics include the relationship of theory to practice; four universal components of education and their relationships; the curriculum development group, whose composition reflects the four components; and goal-directed versus…

The most fundamental ideas ingrained in U.S. culture are the notions of freedom and democracy. The United States Constitution guarantees certain inalienable rights and protections. However, a person only needs to read "The Chronicle of Higher Education" since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center (New York) and the…

Criticizes the variable analytic approach to small group communication currently being used by many social science researchers and suggests some alternative ways of doing research based on a human action perspective. (JMF)

Presents a description and qualitative case study of three high school classrooms, in two of which the teachers actively elicited student dialog and thereby improved writing. Draws on M. Bakhtin, R. Rommetveit and Y. M. Lotman to suggest that a combination of writing and dialogue (spoken interaction) lead to more chances to learn than either…

Contains a number of short testimonials from writing educators about the value of computers. Discusses macros, key-word searching, cutting and pasting in electronic mail, online discussions, and the distance classroom. (TB)

Talks about how a teacher has changed her ideas over the course of her career and learned to grow with the times. Describes the process of professional growth and what is necessary for it to happen. (TB)