The objective of this study is to assess whether arts-based curriculum facilitates the acquisition of English as a Second Language without sacrificing proficiency in the first language (in this case, Spanish). The paper has two chief parts, one theoretical, the other empirical. In the first part, similarities between authentic arts-based…

The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is designed for grades 6 through 12, prepares students most underrepresented in secondary education for four-year college, and restructures the teaching methodology of an entire school to make college preparatory curricula accessible to almost all students. To achieve this goal, school…

To determine if differing ability levels will affect the acquisition of problem-solving skills and self-esteem as a result of participation in two approaches to teaching problem-solving skills, a study was conducted with sixth graders in a posttest-only control group experimental design. Subjects were 102 sixth graders randomly assigned to 5…

This report describes a collaborative effort between a research assistant and a fourth-grade teacher to develop a classroom community for teaching and learning mathematics which fosters problem solving, reasoning, intellectual risk taking, appreciation of diversity, trust, and shared ownership. The characteristics are consistent with suggested…

This volume contains 10 articles describing middle school and high school technology education programs conducted in schools throughout the United States. Program descriptions, which are written by the teachers involved in the programs, are from schools in the following areas: Ann Arbor, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Pittsburg, Kansas; Salt Lake…

Ten examples of innovative and outstanding middle school/junior high science programs are described. These programs were selected using state criteria and at least four independent reviewers. While Project Synthesis offered a desired state, these examples of excellence provided views of what is already a reality. The goals of an exemplary science…

In recognition of the need for suitable materials for the teaching of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to young children, this book suggests model lessons, methods, and activities teachers can use. The book is divided into two sections. Section 1 consists of model lessons demonstrating the use of the newspaper to study the Constitution and…

This unit is based on the premise that science was developed for the purpose of describing and explaining natural phenomena. This means that an important part of teaching science consists of giving students the chance to practice their own descriptions and explanations. This unit was specifically designed to help middle school students acquire an…

This unit is based on the premise that science was developed for the purpose of describing and explaining natural phenomena. This means that an important part of teaching science consists of giving students the chance to practice their own descriptions and explanations. This unit contains many questions that require students to write out…

The main purpose of this 8-month study was to determine whether significant differences in student learning and attitudes occur as a result of the use of word processors, but curriculum changes, inservice teacher requirements, obstacles to incorporating word processing into language arts programs, effective teaching strategies, and effective…

Designed to supplement book 1 of the Rough Rock fourth grade Navajo social studies program, the language arts supplement parallels the social studies lessons for each chapter of the student text. The lessons presented stress creative writing skills allowing the students to use their imagination and freely express ideas and feelings, creating a…

Focusing on the general objectives of emotional, social, and academic development, and economic and physical growth, five areas of curriculum are described. The area of language arts includes motor, oral sensory development in readiness, habits and attitudes, reading, writing, spelling, and language. Arithmetic instruction is divided into primary,…

The guide is one of a series developed in a pilot project to integrate career education concepts with traditional subject matter and topics in elementary grades K-7 and in special education. Developed by teachers in the Radford, Virginia, schools, the units make use of resource persons from outside the school, occupational information,…

This study examines thought, language, and related action in sixth-graders working to understand concepts related to mass, volume, and density. Students from a heterogeneous urban classroom worked in various social contexts including individually, in pairs, in groups of four, and as a class. Their work was examined via videotapes, field notes,…

A middle school teacher describes the process by which she discovered a collaborative approach to teaching writing to a class including English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students. To create a meaningful writing experience, she had students prepare a personal narrative, starting by having the class generate endings to the sentence beginning "I'll…