Describes how using prereading opinionnaires enhances students' understanding of literature while satisfying many of the demands of Standard #3 of the Standards for the English Language Arts. Offers examples of such opinionnaires, and shows how one was used in a 9th-grade English class to promote students' understanding of the novel "The Giver,"…

The Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training on May 2005 commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research to investigate and report on models and implementation arrangements for an Australian Certificate of Education. There are ten different certificates currently available across the six states and two territories of…

This group of articles includes the National Business Education Association's position statements on business education's role in educational reform and in computer literacy, an overview of the National Standards Project in Business Education, and statements by the Policies Commission for Business and Economic Education on keyboarding, computer…

This lesson focuses on the American Revolution, which encouraged the founding fathers' desire to create a government that would, as stated in the Preamble to the Constitution, issue domestic tranquility and provide for the common defense. The lesson correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Government…

This report presents the results of a videotape study of science teaching in Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen is one of China's first special economic zones adjacent to Hong Kong. Developed from a small fishing village in the late 1970s, Shenzhen experienced fast economic growth in the last two decades, which has steadily increased the diversity of the…

This paper discusses both the extent and manner in which the history of science is included in current secondary school physics textbooks. The study investigates what qualifies as history of science in a physics textbook; the focus, extent, and pervasiveness of the history of science content as it actually appears in a textbook; the focus of…

Discusses why students who play musical instruments should participate in a chamber music ensemble. Provides rationale for using small ensembles in the high school band curriculum. Focuses on the topic of scheduling, illustrating how to insert small ensembles into the lesson schedule, and how to set up a new schedule. (CMK)

Reports on a study that examines how well middle school programs support the attainment of key scientific ideas specified in the national science standards. Identifies the typical strengths and weaknesses of these programs using research-based criteria. (Contains 88 references.) (DDR)

Details the history and politics of educational standards in American educational institutions. Outlines key features of various standards projects. (HB)

Discusses three recent attempts to establish national science-education standards: "Project 2061: Science for All Americans"; the National Research Council's national standards for curriculum, teaching, and assessment; and the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Suggests that such reform movements could provide useful direction to local…

Assesses advancements made in injecting women's history into the secondary curriculum, especially in relation to calls by the National Council for the Social Studies for a more balanced social studies curriculum. Discusses actions that teachers and administrators can take to infuse women's history into their classes. Includes a sample lesson plan.…

Finds variable coverage of Earth Science topics in the United Kingdom among General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) double-award science syllabuses and examination papers. Concludes that the levels of error in the examination papers were high and that Earth Science questions showed lower levels of demand and higher levels of recall than…

Looks at what has been happening to the notion of being a "good" English teacher during a period when increasingly this has become a political and professional issue in England. Outlines the pattern of change for English teachers in England, including positive and negative outcomes of the last few years. Indicates what might be learned…

Explains that by studying the music of Clara Schumann, music classes can learn about some of the musical forms, styles, and techniques of the Romantic period. Considers teaching strategies centered around Clara Schumann's "Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann" and provides background information on her life. (CMK)

The general reluctance to use public policy to confront social concerns has increased over the past 20 years. This document discusses how America arrived at this view of public social policy. Mentoring and after-school programs are examined to help explain specific opportunities and limits likely to make up the social policy climate for early…