Most teachers believe that providing students with effective feedback on their writing is vital as it helps students to correct their own mistakes and be more independent writers, which will in turn train them to become better writers. However, some research studies on the effectiveness of teacher feedback on ESL students' writing report a grim picture (Hendrickson, 1980; Semke, 1984; Robb et. al, 1986; Truscott, 1996) as teachers' feedback does not seem helpful for students to improve their writing. This paper presents the results of a classroom research study that examines factors that affect the effectiveness of teacher feedback by analyzing students' preferences for and responses to teacher feedback on their writing. It is suggested that the ineffectiveness of teacher feedback may not lie in the feedback itself, but in the way how feedback is delivered to students. The study also provides several implications for teachers when giving effective feedback to students.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre Journal is the property of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre at http://www.edb.org.hk/hktc]

提升本港學生對中文寫作的興趣及創意，向來是各教育工作者十分關注的課題。本文嘗試從一些學習動機理論出發，再結合本校近年推行的「十分鐘寫作計劃」的一點經驗分享，冀能拋磚引玉，以探求中文老師們如何培養學生的寫作興趣及啟發他們的創意。
Raising interest and creativity in Chinese writing has long been a major concern among educationalists. By looking at some learning motivation theories and also examining the "Ten-Minute Writing Scheme" which has been implemented in our school over the last few years, this paper attempts to arouse the concern of teachers on ways of motivating and enhancing students' interest and creativity in writing.
[Copyright of Journal of Youth Studies is the property of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups at http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/]

回歸前後的香港，在政治上經歷了很多變化。這些政治上的變化不期然地也影響了香港的公民教育的發展。本文嘗試比較回歸前後香港公民教育的發展及其政治變遷的相互關係，尤其側重介紹回歸以後香港公民教育的狀況，包括課程發展、學校實施公民教育的情況、香港學生的公民觀、香港人對公民身份認同的變化，並以社會資本角度的反思作結。本文得出的結論是香港市民對香港是有歸屬感的，但不太有安全感；他們會參與社會的網路組織，有一定的社會參與，但限於傳統性的公民活動（例如選舉）和社會性的活動，較少參與政治性的公民活動；同時，他們也存在一種公民無力感，尤其是政治無力感。
Hong Kong has experienced substantial changes in its political circumstances before and after the handover. These political changes have had much impact on the development of civic education. This paper attempts to compare the development of civic education in Hong Kong before and after the handover, with a particular focus on the impact of changing political circumstances. Another focus of the paper is on the situations of civic education since its handover. This includes a review of the development of the civic education curricula, the implementation of civic education in school, student's concepts of citizenship, changes of civic identity among Hong Kong people, and the paper is concluded with a review from social capital perspectives. The paper concludes with an observation that Hong Kong people have a sense of belonging, but not much sense of security. They participate in social networks, but focus on conventional citizenship activities (such as voting) and socially oriented activities, rather than politically oriented activities. Socially, they feel they make some contributions to the society, but politically they also feel powerless.
[Copyright of Journal of Youth Studies is the property of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups at http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/]

"Reading to learn" has been one of the four key learning strategies in the curriculum reforms implemented by the government (CDC, 2002). Local schools have strengthened reading across curriculum and the teaching of reading strategies. However, apart from integrating reading as a component of curriculum, most of the schools ignore the other functions of reading. Inspired by the theory of Bibliotherapy, a reading program is launched as a strategy to communicate with misbehaving students in a local secondary school. The objective of this study is to find out if Bibliotherapy has a positive effect on a misbehaving student, when implemented by a content subject teacher. Understanding the role of reading inside and outside the classroom, and mastering the strategies of teaching reading should be a professional competency of all local teachers. The function of reading outside the regular classroom will be explored in this paper. How a teacher brought his teaching professionalism into full play by applying reading instruction for correcting a student' s misbehavior will be investigated as well. The results in the study clearly show that reading can improve a student' s behavior because it can help the student to shift from cognitive knowledge to consciousness of awareness and reflective attitude by making analogy between the reading topic and his misbehavior. The observation in this study can provide significant reference for the future development of reading curriculum and teacher professionalism.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre Journal is the property of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre at http://www.edb.org.hk/hktc]

This is a report on an action research project which investigates the extent to which dictation can help pupils learn English as their second language in a local government-subsidized Chinese primary school. It documents a teacher-initiated, classroom-based action research which turned English dictation exercises from the traditional types into innovative ones in three upper primary classes. Respondents came from a sample of 97 average-ability pupils from three primary four to six classes in the school. The researcher compared pupils' perspectives before and after the study and reported the consequent changes in pupils' perceptions of their dictation lessons. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through two sets of structured questionnaires, two semi-structured interviews and teacher's class observation.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre Journal is the property of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre at http://www.edb.org.hk/hktc]

由於教改文件大力提倡專題研習，近年來不少學校都在小學或初中推行跨學科的專題研習。但研究性學習的本質並無年級局限，專題研習的學習方法應該適合在高中學科。此外，教學模式的改變的重點之一是令學生成為學習的主角。本文簡報在一所社區中學內推行的教學計劃，並分享幾年來推行的經驗和報告觀察學生在計劃實施中的表現，及嘗試探討這個計劃如何在不同方面體現本港現時所推行的課程改革目標。
[Copyright of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre Journal is the property of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre at http://www.edb.org.hk/hktc]

本論文就家長的參與和支持，包括出席音樂會、聆聽音樂、在家中觀看音樂節目和整體財政支持等進行研究，亦調查學生在家長參與和支持其器樂學習上的觀感。於2007年10月至11月期間，本研究以自行填寫問卷方式，收集了香港10所中學共1,493位中一至中七學生意見的數據，發現家長對學生音樂活動的參與和支持總體屬低水平，家長的參與僅流於財政上支持。這裡值得關注的，是如何使學生和家長對音樂產生興趣並感到雀躍，從而一起參與音樂活動。
This paper examines various aspects of parental involvement in and support for musical participation, including concert attendance, music listening, watching music programmes at home, and overall financial support. It also examines students' perceptions of parental involvement in, and support for, their instrument learning. Data are drawn from self-completed questionnaires administered in school from October to November 2007 to 1,493 Secondary 1 to Secondary 7 students attending a total of 10 Hong Kong secondary schools. The survey finds low overall levels of parental involvement in and support of students' musical participation, with students reporting that financial assistance from their parents accounts for the majority of parental involvement. The results suggest it is important to determine how to make both students and parents interested in and excited about music, and how to get them to enjoy participating in music together.
[Copyright of Journal of Youth Studies is the property of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups at http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/]

本文分析了兩所學校在發展初中綜合人文科課程時所面對的問題及其應對的領導策略。它們在校方及科組兩大領導層面上採取了不同的手法，包括強化老師團隊合作，找尋適合的課程切入點，並引入了大學的專業支援，促進了課程的發展。這些經驗，除了可供準備發展此學科的學校借鏡外，亦突顯了領導課程發展時需要注意的問題。
This paper discusses two school-based leadership experiences in the development of junior Integrated Humanities (IH) curriculum. Different means have been adopted by school and panel leaders to facilitate the curriculum development, such as reinforcing teachers' collaboration, selecting appropriate entry points and soliciting professional support. Their positive experiences may inform other schools, which aspire to develop their school-based IH curricula and highlight the practical issues in which the curriculum leaders should deal with carefully.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre Journal is the property of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre at http://www.edb.org.hk/hktc]

現今學生普遍缺乏創作靈感，使寫作倍感困難。根據基模理論 (Schema Theory) 及多元互動創意想像的意象模式 (Multidimensional Interactive Creative Imagination Imagery Model)，意象訓練 (imagery training)可以有效地使學生寫作時更具創意。我們是次研究，就是將意象訓練應用於三班，合共一百二十三個中學二年級的學生身上。該批學生於訓練前及訓練後都會參與一個中文作文評核，以了解他們的作文在訓練後會否更具創意。創意的評核準則包括：流暢力、獨創力、文法及文章內容。
[Copyright of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre Journal is the property of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre at http://www.edb.org.hk/hktc]