Observations of open-ended activities in third- and fourth-grade classes identified six characteristics of such activities that can empower teachers and students. These include establishment of activity boundaries, importance of the teacher, risk-taking for teachers and students, negotiation of responsibilities, extended time frameworks, and…

This book offers practical and effective strategies for stress management for both early childhood staff and the children in their care. Here, the author uncovers valuable insights into the causes of stress and outlines a range of activities to counteract it. Early childhood practitioners know that theirs is both a stressful and rewarding…

Noting the discrepancy between what is advocated and what is practiced in language arts classroom, this Digest synthesizes the existing problems, reviews the research supporting language arts integration, and proposes a rationale for integrating the language arts. The Digest points out that these new initiatives in language arts focus on the…

This book discusses the centrality of rhetoric in the academy, asserting the intimate connection between language and knowledge making and stressing the need for a change in the roles of teachers and students in today's classroom. The goal is mutuality, or sharing authority between teachers and students, and allowing everyone an equal voice. For…

This paper presents an outline of teacher empowerment issues. Section 1, "Definitions of Terms and Concepts Related to Teacher Empowerment," focuses on "Teacher Empowerment,""Dimensions of Empowerment,""Three Views of Empowerment,""Issues Related to Empowerment,""Terms Frequently Used in the…

This book about classroom management provides teachers with information on how to help students become the kind of people they want them to be. It offers a guide to the Responsive Classroom approach, a social and emotional learning program that creates an ideal environment for learning. Section 1, "Building a Learning Community,"…

The Empowering Learners Project, a collaborative effort of five United Way agencies in the St. Paul (Minnesota) area, produced this manual to outline some strategies for assisting English-as-a-Second-Language learners in becoming effective learners and critical thinkers. Ideas in the manual came from project agencies and research in critical…

Issues involved in teaching, as contrasted with organizing, women's studies are discussed, including innovative approaches and the use of individual work, group work, and self-directed learning. It is argued that since the objective is to empower students, the need to include black women and black feminists is central. Future directions for…

Increasing true powers helps a teacher manage a classroom more effectively, minimizing behavioral problems, and maximizing learning. Personal and professional powers are described, and strategies to increase these powers are outlined. Included is a questionnaire which teachers can use to evaluate their "power potential." (IAH)

A proposed model for preservice teacher practicums, the Reflective and Critical Internship Program, is designed to encourage students to voice their concerns and produce their own solutions to classroom issues, particularly in relation to classroom management. Within this model, the problem-solving process is both individual and collective.…

Reflects on the implementation of Paulo Freire's problem-posing method in an East Los Angeles College (California) course on the media portrayal of Chicanos. Examines Freire's pedagogy and its application in the classroom, and critiques the process. Describes recent work applying the Freirean methodology in college classrooms. (Author/LS)

A program of intervention called therapeutic tutoring to help underachievers is described. Intervention centers around students' loci of control, through a process of identifying areas in which students feel empowered and relating academic experiences to these areas. Academic exercises based on Monopoly, cricket, rugby, soap operas, field hockey,…

This book describes the theory and process of transformative learning (TL) and presents practical strategies for fostering and supporting TL. In chapters 1 and 2, TL is placed within the broader context of adult learning and Mezirow's 1991 theory of TL is presented. Chapter 3 examines the following: TL's relationship to the instrumental,…

Advocates a proactive method by Forrest Gathercoal of dealing with conflict and discipline in the music classroom through reliance on democratic principles. This method, "Judicious Discipline," is based upon the Bill of Rights and includes sharing power, allowing students to be heard, and acknowledging their thoughts as credible and…

This document, which was developed to assist individuals working in publicly sponsored literacy programs in Georgia, offers instructional plans and practical strategies designed to help teachers empower their students of adult literacy, adult basic education, General Educational Development, and English as a second language. Detailed guidelines…