The Greek elementary school system is described in this booklet, which was developed for those teaching Greek children who come directly from Greek elementary schools to Chicago public schools. The Greek school system is described as different from the Chicago one in both content and methods of instruction; thus, the purpose of this document is to…

This paper suggests that the study of holidays presents an opportunity for elementary school teachers to employ a range of social science disciplines and to teach their students the fundamentals of inquiry and critical thinking. The study of holidays from a cross-cultural perspective helps students to understand that peoples of all cultures find…

At the Grand Royal Palace Compound in Bangkok, mosaics speak to art teachers in new forms. Thai culture can be linked to the study of mosaics, inspire subject matter, and lead to new approaches in mosaic work. (AM)

One avenue for authentic exploration of different cultures is to incorporate folktales and folklore into early childhood curriculum. Universal themes are found as common threads in the folklore of many cultures, and folktales and folklore contribute to learning about each culture's rich heritage. Folklore and folktales teach young children about…

The Developmental Speech Sequence Model (DSSM), based on a developmental approach designed to overcome deficiencies in public speaking, offers students guidelines for speech delivery but not at the expense of spontaneity. While some approaches provide step-by-step direction or are more abstract, the DSSM builds developmentally through a series of…

This guide is for educators who wish to improve existing curricular frameworks about teaching about language. The guide is anchored by five goal statements for student learning: (1) to investigate the origin and early development of human communication systems; (2) to gain an appreciation for the rich variety of ways in which humans convey…

This guide is for educators who wish to improve existing curricular frameworks concerning teaching about world literature. The guide is anchored by four goal statements for student learning: (1) to increase students' appreciation of oral literary traditions as a means for better understanding themselves and others; (2) to examine the written…

The paper discusses (1) sources of difficulty in comprehending technical writing, (2) distinctions between content structure and text structure, (3) building blocks for expository writing and techniques of text design, (4) contrasts between American and Japanese science and social studies texts, and (5) suggestions for promoting comprehension.…

This guide is for educators who wish to improve existing curricular frameworks for teaching about world cultures. The guide is anchored by six goal statements for student learning: (1) to begin to understand that cultures are complex and are made up of many components (values, behavior, habitat, aesthetics, etc.); (2) to recognize the part…

This manual provides guidelines, sample documents, and sample lesson plans for the trainers, trainees, and host families involved in homestays for Peace Corps volunteers. The manual contains 11 sections that deal with the following topics: (1) introduction; (2) policy, timelines, and responsibilities; (3) medical and financial issues; (4) host…

Realizing that the day-to-day lives of the average citizens and the destinies of nations are being influenced by growing international, cross-cultural links, there is a need to cultivate in young people a world perspective which emphasizes the interconnections among cultures, species, and the planet. This paper surveys the background of global…

As many disciplines as possible should be used in the teaching of Indian Studies. In particular, creative literature adds another dimension to the understanding of Indian culture and the history of Indian-white relations when it is used in conjunction with historical and anthropological material. The serious student should read historical novels…

The document contains materials prepared for a workshop designed to foster cross-cultural understanding in junior high school teachers. It is presented in six sections. Section I defines several key concepts such as culture, racism, ethnic diversity, stereotype, pluralism, ethnic encapsulization, and types of teaching styles and dialects.…