The author has been working at the same elementary school in Hawai'i for nearly twenty years. Nearly ten years ago, he argued in his doctoral dissertation that philosophy for children and its pedagogy of the community of inquiry is good for kids. His thesis is this: In today's American educational climate, with its laser-sharp focus on…

In the struggle to raise U.S. students' achievement in literacy, Hartnett-Edwards says, the emphasis has shifted from finding the right materials to creating better teachers. Central to creating better teachers are literacy coaches. The author claims that the role of literacy/reading coach has evolved beyond its roots in NCLB legislation, when…

Many school library media specialists, especially in elementary schools, establish library clubs and library monitor programs. In most cases, these clubs and programs are limited to students assisting with clerical duties in the library such as shelving books and manning the circulation desk under supervision. The library media specialist assigns…

Describes how a visit to the principal's office to see his family heirloom (a quilted Hawaiian flag), and reading the book "Badger's Parting Gifts," created powerful and ongoing lessons for the author's second graders, imparting an eternal way of thinking about gifts, family, friends, and human values. (SR)

Describes how one independent Hawaiian school worked to situate technology within its program and how its headmaster affected the progress. Because students had been exposed to varying levels of computer technology, a planning team had to determine a direction for its program. The plan included computer instruction for school staff. (SM)

An elementary teacher reflects upon 18 years of experience teaching in Hawaii, moving from understanding her own culture to awareness of and sensitivity to her students' heritage. She considers her best teaching experiences the bridge building between herself and her culture and her students and their culture. (SM)

Newspaper headlines from across the United States reflect the turmoil in public education today, with some states protesting federal requirements for testing, some states lowering proficiency requirements, other states raising proficiency requirements, and even kindergarten and preschool children facing higher academic expectations. These…

Discusses the impact of culture and sociocultural characteristics on student behavior and attitudes, focusing on Filipino students in Hawaiian public schools. The article makes recommendations for teachers who work in multicultural classrooms, explaining the teacher's role and discussing how teachers and students can be partners in learning. (SM)