A teacher defends the effectiveness of the English language and literature program of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education at a Tanganyika international school, despite criticisms of its syllabus, exam structure, and criteria. The program is externally moderated, has sound assessments and strong parental support, and…

Describes how a 10th-grade English teacher brings a historical event such as World War I to life with words and visuals of the time. Discusses World War I poems as products of that era, and helps students realize they have the stream of language inside themselves by journaling, making a "word bank," and writing poems. (SR)

Students need to develop interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as team members, teach others, and work well with diverse people. A Connecticut high school successfully used curriculum-based teaming to integrate its curriculum and teach the value of teamwork. The 9th-grade Success in Learning program and the 10th-grade American…

Describes an experimental course in optics for 10th grade high school students. The course incorporates those historical ideas, views, and conceptions that constituted the early understanding of light and vision. Presents a part of the course which assesses its impact on students' views about science and some related technological and cultural…

Three decades of mounting academic and testing requirements are snagging growing numbers of students in the 9th grade. "The bulge" is the name education researchers give to the percentage increase in students in the 9th grade over the same period. This article reports on factors that might explain the growing 9th grade bottleneck and…

One of the most important indicators of educational performance is the high school dropout rate. Reducing dropout rates and improving high school graduation rates are important goals for both educators and policymakers. Yet there is a great deal of controversy about how best to measure dropout and graduation rates. This issue of EL Facts provides…

Describes a pre-assessment survey administered to high school freshmen and sophomores to measure the students' level of cultural literacy in a world history context. Explains the rationale behind test content selection and analyzes results. Concludes that students were weakest on map skills and significant dates and periods, but were eager to take…

Describes the two-day library orientation offered to all incoming sophomore English classes at Quincy High and Vocational Technical Schools in Milton, Massachusetts. Computer-scored pretests allow librarians to tailor the basic orientation package to the needs of each class. (SJL)

Details the use and appeal of Web logs to enhance classroom discussion and allow for outside involvement in the classroom. Defines a Web log, addresses discussing literature in a Web log, and describes the author's first attempts at using Web-log technology. Presents considerations for using Web logs as part of classroom instruction. (SG)

Describes a group investigation unit in a tenth grade English class that focused on the Middle East. Outlines six stages used for the investigation. Discusses the use of a steering committee as well as the problems and frustrations experienced during the project. Lists 10 areas in which the students' skills were expanded. (PRA)

Describes a research project for 10th-grade students that was developed to produce independent researchers who had a clear understanding of the research process and a knowledge of some of the research materials available in the school library media center. Independence was emphasized by discouraging help from the teacher or librarian. (LRW)

Summarizes the experience of creating an interdisciplinary unit for 10th grade students in which three history and two English teachers team-taught Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," each teacher presenting one of Chaucer's characters. Discusses the students' reactions and the benefits of the unit. (CMK)

States that instruction in pedagogics at the lower level of secondary education within the German school system is usually offered as a compulsory optional subject for grades nine and ten and is taught under the name of pedagogics, educational science, socio-pedagogics, social work, or basic pedagogics. (CMK)

Two years ago, Shorecrest High School in Shoreline, Washington, committed to making each student's sojourn a personalized learning experience, even in a school of 1,500. The teachers at Shorecrest took a closer look at their student population and found out several unmet needs of the significant minority group of students. Among those findings…

Using a dialogue journal during a school year helped a 10th-grade student focus on skills that build responsibility and self-reliance. The Expanded Core Curriculum (Hatlen, 1996) addresses disability specific skills that include compensatory and social interaction skills. Providing instruction in organization, time management, and self-advocacy…