The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Welcoming School Climates." Contents include: (1) Welcoming and Safe Schools…

Increasing numbers of children in Texas communities and across the U.S. are immigrants. One way to support students in exploring the history and contemporary topic of immigration through literacy is with inquiry, a teaching method that centers around students' questions, incorporates informational and narrative texts, and creates opportunities for…

In order to promote effective learning, individuals must feel fully appreciated within their own unique identities (i.e., ethnicities, language differences, socioeconomic status, gender, religions). Culturally competent educators employ practices that acknowledge and build on cultural diversity and that identify students themselves as resources…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Teaching Quality." Contents include: (1) Using Project-Based Learning and STEAM…

Four researchers collaborated on this qualitative case study that examined 11 first-year novice art teachers' understanding and implementation of meaningful curriculum. Participants were selected through a criterion method sampling strategy; the subjects were employed in rural, urban, and suburban public school districts. In order to conduct a…

This article explores changes in multicultural knowledge and skill to which beginning art teachers are held accountable through standardized teacher testing in Texas. Standardized testing of preservice art teachers' knowledge and skill has been the basis of the state's certification of beginning art teachers and accreditation of art teacher…

The authors describe how three elementary teachers working in very different parts of the United States teach about Mexico. These teachers' practices allow them to enhance the traditional social studies curriculum, help children learn about themselves and other people, and increase children's capacities for global citizenship. (Contains 1 figure.)

Mentor teachers want their student teachers to be prepared with quality instruction so that students can achieve their maximum potential. The knowledge and experience that the student teachers gain with the mentor teachers in their classrooms is invaluable. As supervisors of student teachers, mentor teachers follow an evaluation form which has…

Provides four lesson plans using discipline-based art education techniques to examine the content and technique of a series of art works portraying Texas. The lesson plans use "mind mapping" (nonlinear visualization of a concept or idea easily linked to others). Includes background information on artists Bruno Andrade, Dennis Blagg,…

Texas, through a recent state legislative mandate, has initiated educational reform for its public school system and teacher education programs in colleges and universities. To implement this reform, the Texas Educational Agency has developed essential elements that are required to be integrated into such courses as the visual arts for a…

The guide details the goals, strategies, and resources needed to implement effective art programs in Texas. It is designed to help teachers, administrators, college and university faculty, and education service center personnel as they work together to make the visual arts a viable part of Texas public education. The guide's seven main sections…

Designed for history teachers of students in grades 4-7 and for museum educators, this teacher's manual interprets art and objects in the Hall of State (Dallas) within the context of the Texas history curriculum. Although the guide focuses specifically on Texas history and the Hall of State, it can be used as a model for museum and school…