Although authenticity makes one vulnerable, the author believes that its impact on learning and on enjoyment of the teaching and learning process justifies the risk. This chapter describes how to offer a relationship to each student, focusing on appropriate caring for individuals and for learning. (Contains 1 figure.)

Conflict resolution programs are one part of peer programs offered in schools to enhance the development of life skills of students. This article addresses the need for and role of conflict resolution education in the schools. It then describes several approaches to conflict resolution education. A review of outcome research concerning conflict…

A basic writing course instructor attempted to facilitate her students' survival in the academy by demystifying writing conventions while teaching them how to analyze discourses about literacy, especially in relation to cultural and economic forces. Students were asked to design an ideal basic writing course as a final journal assignment.…

The inability of standardized, English-based tests to adequately assess the abilities and potential of deaf secondary school students has led to creating innovative, realistic assessment strategies. Goals are to empower students to develop decision-making skills, evaluate their critical thinking, and promote lifelong learning through use of…

Discusses how Discovering in Mathematics course at Hobart and William Smith colleges undoes damage done to women's sense of themselves as failed mathematics learners during their precollege years. Notes that course helps students who have previously had difficulty with or who dislike mathematics by paying special attention to barriers encountered…

Computer technology can empower students if they have the tools to find their way through print and online sources. This article describes how a reference librarian and a faculty instructor collaborated to teach research strategies and critical thinking skills (including analysis and evaluation of resources) in a large university classroom using a…

This article explains how administrators make it possible for their staff to initiate and implement advocacy efforts on behalf of students with special needs. A step-by-step series of actions and decision points are described to support the implementation of an innovative student-led Individualized Education Program process. (Contains 7…

An ongoing challenge that both classroom and physical education teachers face on a daily basis is how to organize and manage large groups of students. This is particularly true in many urban settings where classrooms and gymnasiums are typically understaffed and/or under equipped. Educators in these settings often struggle with how to minimize…

Teaching in community college classrooms is characterized by increasing levels of diversity. Mobilizing diversity as a resource for learning can include specific instructional methods grounded in constructivist educational theory and border pedagogy. Their utility in pursuit of education fosters a form of cultural production enabling people to…

This article describes a project that will make a positive impact in today's special education classroom. Teachers will learn how to use Problem Based Learning (PBL) units as a tool to empower students with special needs to become more confident, independent, successful students. It will also shatter the stereotype that students with special needs…

Lack of relevant course work is a top reason why high school students drop out, and studies have shown that low-income and minority students are less likely to be enrolled in college preparatory curricula than their more affluent peers. In today's world, it is critical to ensure that all students have access to a rigorous, high-quality education…

The literature review examines research and theory concerning the critical aspects of classroom culture for promoting literacy development, particularly for learners of English as a second language. It begins by establishing a conceptual framework for discussing classroom culture, then focuses on literature on six critical classroom attributes:…

This text examines the forces that keep educators and students from feeling fully empowered, that is, gaining the power to self-actualize and to facilitate this process for others. A feminist perspective is used to consider directions for educational reform and innovation broadly under an umbrella philosophy of empowerment, suggesting a paradigm…

At-risk students and their nondisabled peers profit from opportunities to make choices about their literacy learning. While not a panacea, experiencing self-determination in school empowers students in ways that will last a lifetime. Literacy educators can encourage a positive momentum in this direction by demonstrating how to select reading…

This paper describes a collaborative approach toward preventing and intervening in abusive behaviors among youth. Outdoor leaders may be caught off guard by abusive behavior during outdoor courses and may be uncertain how to work with groups in which such behavior is the norm. The concept of "dominant discourse" is useful for…