This article addresses the concept of participation in the mathematics classroom, especially as it relates to students from certain ethnic and language groups and economically disadvantaged students. The authors are primarily concerned with seeking ways to develop approaches to mathematics education that are sensitive to the contexts and lived…

Presents a theoretical framework for analyzing minority students' school failure and the relative lack of success of previous attempts at educational reform, such as compensatory education and bilingual education. The author suggests that these attempts have been unsuccessful because they have not altered significantly the relationships between…

This guide provides teachers with a nine-step process to empower students to plan and implement civic participation projects in their community. The guide lists the materials students need and outlines the procedures for guiding students in the civic action project. It suggests that the teacher: (1) decide on a project in advance; (2) introduce…

Due to the fact that college classrooms are increasingly culturally diverse, the challenge for instructors is to foster a learning environment in which students gain a more focused sense of identity and achieve academic success. Through the use of stories in the communication classroom, at-risk students from diverse backgrounds can recognize the…

Students, either male or female, can be silenced by the adversarial discourse that often characterizes argumentative situations. Alternatives proposed by feminist rhetoricians should apply to any voice silenced in the classroom. Rhetoricians concerned with empowering writers of argument have illustrated three alternatives that enable writers to…

This paper addresses the movement to "improve" schools by means of legislating mandatory testing and then publishing students' results in local newspapers and on the Internet. Students who attend schools where the standards are not met are often the ones who would benefit most from a broad-based language arts program. These students are…

There is very little research on the phenomena surrounding the life stories and experiences of teen parents who completed their associate's degree. This dissertation is a case study that tells the life stories of five teen parents who graduated from the Cincinnati Branch of Chatfield College with an associate's degree. Narrative Inquiry provides…

Homeroom "power" (the capability to affect students' feelings, attitudes, or behaviors) varies by meeting frequency and length, amount of student turnover, faculty members' length of assignment with one group of students, and number of allotted tasks. Homerooms can be revived to promote a communitarian spirit and serve students' need for…

Describes three social studies projects tackled by students at the Bronx High School of Science: an extracredit activity on doing business in Manhattan, a citizen-participation project on fixing the United States, and a cooperative activity to identify problems common to Tokyo and New York City. Using the Internet to solve real-world problems…

This article describes the Wings Mentor Program in Maryland, a program developed to provide additional support to students with gifts who also have learning disabilities and highly able students who were not succeeding in the classroom. Students realize their creative and intellectual potential when paired with mentors who nurture them. (Contains…

Considers the relationship of teacher questioning to resultant student questions in a whole language, literature-based classroom. Finds that the teacher provided numerous opportunities for students to continually formulate questions, helping students to master the difficult art of asking questions at different levels of inquiry. (RS)

Describes the preparation, implementation, and results of a classroom cross-age tutoring project, which involved third and fourth graders reading books to younger students. Discusses evolution of project: students' lesson plans became more student-centered and complex over time, tutors assumed responsibility for younger children, and their…

This article discusses the negative effects of criticizing a child's teacher in front of the child and the positive effects of modeling a healthy respect of the educational system. Study findings are discussed which indicate high-achieving children saw themselves as active partners with their teachers or coaches, not empty vessels. (Contains 6…

Describes Electronic Networks for Interaction (ENFI), a local area network project developed at Gallaudet University to empower students with hearing impairments. Notes that this project can be adapted easily for use with traditional students. (MM)

Asserts that a student-writing portfolio can be a powerful tool for writing instruction. Describes how students compile a portfolio, and the types of writing included. Discusses the use of collaboration in the writing process and methods of assessment. (PRA)