Through their involvement with the Coalition of Essential Schools, the two high school teachers profiled here reenergized their daily lives and motivated their students toward exciting learning gains. Both teachers changed their practices because their students were not responding as they had hoped. Students' roles have also changed, as they…

For fear of blaming the victims, educators have been reluctant to endorse strategies requiring hard work from students as a condition for learning. U.S. students are working far below their potential because they experience no reason to do otherwise. The United States one of the rare developed nations without a high-stakes exit examination for…

Although an Illinois district had worked successfully with the Thoughtful Education model for instructional and curriculum reform, its tests still focused students' attention on grades. Using personalized learning principles stressing choice, understanding, motivation, engagement, critical thinking, and reflection, faculty created tests compatible…

In this interview, a neuroscientist explains possible applications of brain-imaging techniques to diagnose children's reading difficulties. When good readers do phonologic processing, they activate areas in the back and front of their brains. The brain systems of poorer readers process incoming print information differently. (MLH)

Drawing on his "crisis of confidence" in reading academic texts as a graduate student, Vacca explains that self-efficacy--a belief in one's ability to succeed--provides the key to struggling readers' ability to comprehend texts outside their comfort zone. Self-efficacy and comprehension are interrelated. If students believe they have a good chance…

Examines current grading procedures and expresses the desire that children succeed in school, not because of the threat of grades, but because they are interested and motivated.

Describes a program that helps students build general learning skills and subject specific skills. The success of the program is based on providing students an environment conducive to active learning. (MD)

Keeping a journal of classroom experiences can help students express their understandings of the concepts they learn in school and how the lessons relate to their own lives. An eight-item reference list is provided. (Author)

Study indicates that there is considerable evidence that length of teacher preparation in a subject bears little relationship to student mastery of the subject. (Author)

Schools have devised several ways to adapt instruction to a wide variety of student abilities and needs. Judged by criteria for what adaptive education should be, most learning for mastery programs look good. (Author/JM)

Robert Slavin's position--that extrinsic rewards promote student motivation and learning--may be valid within the context of a "facts-and-skills" curriculum. However, extrinsic rewards are unnecessary when schools offer engaging learning activities; programs addressing social, ethical, and cognitive development; and a supportive…

Most young people in Europe and Asia move directly into primary labor market by age 21. The do-it-yourself system confronting most U.S. non-college-bound youth has resulted in high youth unemployment, shortages of adequately prepared youth entering the job market, and increasingly uncompetitive economy drifting to low-skill, low-wage jobs.…

Researchers followed the progress of 10 restructured secondary schools as they "detracked" their curriculum. Most schools abolished low-level courses in favor of regular classes with honors options. Two middle schools developed a common curriculum; some high schools required all students to pass benchmark classes. Others created opportunities for…

Policymakers sometimes view arts education and experiential learning as distractions from the goal of enabling all students to master rigorous content standards. The three school programs described in this article, however, demonstrate that content standards can be integrated into engaging, motivating curriculums based on the arts and authentic…

Staff development for artistic teaching involves no simple formula but encouragement of individuality and spontaneity. (Author)