Presents information concerning the range of external interruptions experienced by junior high school teachers. Examines the ways in which interruptions become disruptions. Provides suggestions on how to manage these interruptions and discusses the difference between "proactive" and "reactive" class management. Finds that size…

While almost any educator would agree that students deserve access to equal educational opportunities, many schools still sort students based on test scores or other criteria. There's a better way: one built on offering all students access to the best curriculum. In this first-ever practical book that shows how educators can make detracking work,…

This article expands on the idea that Britain might use Denmark's experimental school program and reports on the pioneering Tvind Schools and on one of the Danish "little" schools. (Editor/RK)

Discusses ways school counselors can be agents of change in organizational behavior to promote organizational health in their schools. Defines organizational health and identifies 10 related dimensions. (ABB)

A good deal of evidence now suggests that a strong sense of community in schools has benefits for both staff members and students, while providing a necessary foundation for school improvement. This digest in Spanish provides an overview of the literature on schools as communities. The digest identifies the elements of community schools, the…

This article on changing schools advances five hypotheses for why effective educational change comes only when schools reconstruct themselves. Relates these hypotheses to a model'' school the author would like to build in which school is organized into phases instead of grades, teams instead of teachers, and in which performance evaluation on a…

The author considers various perspectives on the qualities that distinguish the Catholic school and make it a better place for education. She outlines ideals for Catholic schools presented by Vatican Council II and by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. (SJL)

The success of preventive and intervention programs for youth violence hinges upon recognizing and modifying aspects of school climate, teacher/school personnel interactions with students, and school structure. Several of these aspects are identified in this article and suggestions for improving the educational environment to prevent the…

Teacher collegial groups (TCGs) may be a structure capable of promoting much-needed professional dialogue among teachers. This article frames TCGs within the organization development perspective, explains how one principal implemented a TCG in her school, and analyzes how the process affected a school's organizational culture. Includes 24…

Examines school reform efforts through a "reculturing," rather than a restructuring, lens, based on a sample of schools engaged with five reform models (Accelerated Schools, Coalition of Essential Schools, Comer's School Development Program, Effective Schools, and Success for All). A newly developed instrument enhances understanding of…

This chapter discusses issues that are common across the literatures and makes connections across the different levels of inquiry to develop a conceptual model of peer influences on learning. Based on the premise that compositional effects operate through a nested series of hierarchical layers, the chapter proposes a multi-layered model with…

A team of faculty and students from a principal preparation program sought to discover how administrators and teachers in two culturally diverse middle schools were implementing the concept of learning community. The purposes of the study was to: (1) Explore how administrators and teachers defined learning communities; (2) Determine how the two…

The second wave of reform involves a comprehensive view of restructuring schools. This means rebuilding relationships among all school community members, changing organizational arrangements, and rethinking the curriculum. Written by second wave educators committed to professionalizing teaching and building a more collaborative school culture, the…

This report is the third and final phase of a year and one-half study on the feasibility of reorganizing the currently splintered grade system in Providence, Rhode Island into a uniform K through 8 structure. The first volume of the report is an overview of the Providence School System and the goals of the feasibility study. A variety of policy…