Describes how gardens can be used to teach children about plants, wildlife, food, and the environment. Illustrates how gardens are established and used in various elementary schools. (CCM)

With the enactment of the NCLB mandates, emphasis on high-stakes testing became more prevalent than ever. Some argue that high-stakes tests can be a driving force behind fundamental change in schools. Whether or not this type of test-driven change leads to school improvement is an empirical question. What we do know is that high-stake testing can…

In a field of revolving-door leaders, Thomas W. Payzant is the exception to the rule. Amid the rise and fall of superintendents in city after city, he has led the Boston Public Schools for nearly 11 years. Now, as he prepares to retire, the district offers a rare glimpse of what is possible with stable leadership in urban education. It is a story…

This article offers a portrait of a young black male teacher in an urban school in South Central Los Angeles. In the portrait, the words of the subject are intertwined with the thoughts and reactions of the researcher as a way in which to capture his life history narrative and offer his reading of the world. The article discusses the participant's…

Among the best examples of the professional development of teachers that has become a key component of systemic educational reform are the curriculum-based teacher networks that have been created and nurtured in public schools by external private and public funders. This study examined the impact of four such networks on teacher renewal and…

Chicago's Metro High curriculum is the city; its learning laboratory is the community; and its lesson is freedom, choice, and responsibility. (Author)

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT METHODS OF TEACHING AND MANY DIFFERENT METHODS OF LEARNING. FOR MAXIMUM LEARNING, TEACHING STYLES AND LEARNING STYLES SHOULD BE CONGRUENT, THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WITH THE DISADVANTAGED LEARNER. THE DISADVANTAGED CHILD COMES TO SCHOOL WITH A CERTAIN PERSONALITY, WITH CERTAIN NEEDS, AND WITH CERTAIN BUILT-IN MECHANISMS. HE…

The most important feature of this 2-year elementary teacher education program, begun in 1966, is the earlier and more direct exposure it offers to inner-city education. To take place before student teaching, it provides for 2 days per week to be spent at one of 12 local cooperating elementary schools, studying teaching methods in specific…

GRADES OR AGES: Grades 10 and 11. SUBJECT MATTER: Social studies; United States geography and history. ORGANIZATION AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE: The major portion of the guide is divided into two subunits. The first subunit is laid out in two columns, one each for topics and activities. The second subunit is laid out in three columns, one each for…

In preparing urban teachers to become effective classroom communicators, urban speech teachers should involve their students in interpersonal communication within an intergroup context whenever possible. Students must be taught to become sensitive to word choice, aware of the importance of verbal and nonverbal codes, and more empathic. To…

The Richmond Volleyball Association is an example of a meaningful sports program offered to urban school children and developed as a result of individual physical education student interest. (MJB)

Although American cities have changed and, many feel, declined, they remain important resources for educating. The life and architecture of the cities hold lessons for students from grade school to college. Using the city at hand, the teacher can help to create a new breed of informed, active urban citizens. (KH)

Author discusses urban education as a code word representing commitments to change, to reform, and most important to social justice. (GB)