Examined the life histories of early adolescent participants in Artists in the Making, a program designed to motivate inner city youth through participation in visual arts classes. Student interviews indicated that, despite participant diversity, there were several common themes, including self-discovery, problem solving skills, opportunities for…

Investigates the effects of four structural characteristics of instruction on student learning: (1) authenticity; (2) challenge; (3) demand for skills; and (4) allowance for student autonomy. Shows that high quality learning experiences are authentic, allow choice, and demand student skills. States that a boring and alienated experience results…

Accessible, practical, and empowering, this book gives school professionals the tools to put students in charge of their own learning. Going beyond traditional "study skills" guides that focus on the mechanics of homework completion and test taking, the authors address the underlying psychological factors that influence academic success and…

Describes how teachers can develop a student art auction as a way to raise money for an art program, the students, or other causes. Explains that an auction helps students feel like real artists. Discusses each aspect of the process from preliminary decisions to selecting artwork to bidding at the auction. (CMK)

Discusses the need to use computer-related vocabulary, or tech talk, with minority students to ensure their future in a technogically-driven society. Describes how to motivate students with tech talk by creating a culturally responsive learning environment; acquiring the language of technology; helping students feel comfortable with technology;…

Illustrates the use of multigenre research reports, a collection of student responses to a topic that incorporates several different writing modes. A ninth-grade global issues class was assigned a multigenre research project on Latin America. Reveals the results of the projects and provides an appendix. (CMK)

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…

Academic Development Program students face a special challenge. Within a few short weeks, they must hone their reading, writing, and speaking skills while scrambling to adjust to life in college. Usually, pre-freshmen enrolled in the Academic Development Program are not familiar with the demands of academic reading, writing, and oral response. For…

Developmental assets are a research-based list of the essential building blocks of healthy youth development and comprise the relationships, experiences, and values that youth need to grow up caring, confident, and responsible. In November, 2001, Assets for Colorado Youth (ACY) convened a group of educators, students, and family advocates from the…

Interviews Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, the 2002 Teacher of the Year at Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Explains how Sheryl has pushed technology to its limits in an effort to help her students push their own limits. Contends that technology provides the perfect medium for offering children the chance to build their own experiences, construct their…

This study was designed to increase student empowerment through the use of formative assessment. The targeted population consisted of first and fifth grade students in the same school. Evidence for the existence of the problem included teacher observation, students' lack of knowledge and skills to complete classroom assignments, and low test…

Students must learn how to empower themselves and how to empower others if they are to survive in modern organizations (corporate, educational, and governmental). Traditional bureaucratic pedagogies, to which many faculty are accustomed, neither teach nor develop these skills. Furthermore, the use of bureaucratic pedagogies limits student…

Explains a case study in Retrospective Miscue Analysis (RMA), a process which enables readers to discuss the underlying logic of their miscues. Concludes that RMA is a powerful tool in crafting and guiding reading instruction. Notes that when the student subject was encouraged to use reading strategies that worked for him, he became empowered as a…

A program of intervention called therapeutic tutoring to help underachievers is described. Intervention centers around students' loci of control, through a process of identifying areas in which students feel empowered and relating academic experiences to these areas. Academic exercises based on Monopoly, cricket, rugby, soap operas, field hockey,…

Discusses the benefits of using young adult literature and trade books when teaching social studies to middle school students, especially in relation to student motivation and reading level. Addresses how to use young adult literature, student choice of books, and cooperative learning. Describes two classroom activities for a follow-up to…