The teacher's role in creating cooperative learning experiences in classrooms including students with hearing impairments is described. Implementation of cooperative learning activities involves establishing working groups, preparing the environment and instructional materials, setting instructional and social objectives, monitoring progress, and…

Simulations allow active student participation in learning. In assigned character roles, students experience real-life situations, using their knowledge and skill to experiment in new situations. Simulations promote advanced thinking and problem solving across subject areas. Teachers must be facilitator, organizers, and managers of learning…

Discusses two dimensions of equity within small-group learning--access and equitable relations--describing complex instruction (CI) as an approach that lets educators address these issues. CI teachers use cooperative learning to teach at high academic levels in diverse classrooms. The paper describes CI in action, achievement results in CI…

Describes how teachers of the gifted can make the study of mathematics dynamic, innovative, and creative through the exploration of problem-solving skills and real-life applications. Math competitions and general academic competitions that include mathematics for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools are highlighted. (CR)

The classroom technique of using strategy cards in cooperative learning situations for students with learning disabilities is explained. Guidelines and a script on how to instruct students to use the cards are provided. An example of a strategy card is illustrated. (CR)

This energy education unit contains activities and classroom management strategies that emphasize cooperative learning and peer teaching. The activities are designed to develop students' science, math, language arts, and social studies skills and knowledge. Students' critical thinking, leadership, and problem solving skills will be enhanced as…

Outlines some activities and assumptions of organizational development in the schools. (IRT)

Reprints of 17 studies on approaches to ensuring full participation of handicapped students in the regular classroom are presented. The studies, carried out over a 3-year period, were intended to examine evidence on the efficacy of mainstreaming, with particular emphasis on the role of competitive, cooperative, and individualistic learning…

Presents an activity to involve student and community groups in the complexities of desegregation planning and to stimulate among participants the desire for additional data on a variety of desegregation questions. The activity is based on an imaginary city under court order to desegregate. (Author)

Explains how social studies teachers can teach cooperative behavior to junior high students. Three critical factors are length of time student groups have worked together, interdependence of goals attached to the tasks, and interdependence of means to accomplish the tasks. (Author/AV)

The study explored possible long-term benefits to farmers who were members of 4-H. Surveys were returned by 2,004 Kentucky farmers. Generally, former 4-H members were younger, had higher incomes, and used more innovative techniques than the other farmers. (CH)

Describes the use of the "Let's Be A Group" activity in providing a vehicle for group facilitators' appropriate interventions and participants' personal and group insights. The board game includes questions dealing with structure, information, intimacy and insight. An informal evaluation by 25 school counselors was positive. (JAC)

Describes design features of group learning activities. Includes providing open-ended tasks, multiple ways to demonstrate competence, discipline-based content, creative and supportive interdependence and individual accountability, and clear evaluation criteria. (Contains 11 references.) (PKP)

Describes several gardening activities that can be kept simple or used as a foundation for more in-depth projects. Activities include setting up an indoor garden spot, making compost which helps students understand the terms "decompose" and "compost", watching plants drink in which students measure water movement in plants, making herb gardens,…

This article describes the Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle School, Inc., a non-for profit public foundation dedicated to strengthening the education of gifted youngsters though mathematics competitions. The development of the Olympiads, the program's structure, and the benefits of competition are discussed. Sample questions and answers…