As educators introduce new technology into a district, school, or classroom, it is important to take advantage of children's natural ability, enthusiasm, and willingness to master new skills. Certain activities such as journal writing, picture-digitizing projects, and designated student experts help place the power of technology squarely in…

Campus-activities programs are encouraged to make special efforts to teach student volunteers basic business skills to guide their thinking and decision-making in program administration. The program, its staff, students, institution, and associate members all benefit. A model for training and empowering students is outlined. (MSE)

Presents young adult literature as a solution to empower students and to make reading literacy attainable for middle and senior high school students who have not become fluent readers. Discusses the importance of accessing the student's own culture and outlines the criteria books should have to mirror the world of adolescents. (SC)

Examines potential ways to view bilingual education in a more liberatory perspective. Summarizes the global, historical context of bilingual education, and outlines principles and features of six models of formal bilingual education. Discusses how language use in school can empower or disable language minority students. Views bilingualism as a…

Describes a four-week unit developed by the author to teach her at-risk high school students assertive communication as a means of empowerment, a way of taking control of situations. Describes organizing the content and implementing the curriculum, and notes students' positive and enthusiastic feedback. (SR)

Libraries are the logical place to model gender-equitable practices, broadening the scope of technology and equipping young people with skills to succeed in a diverse and changing environment. This article discusses gender attitudes about technology and library and teaching issues related to technology and gender. Argues that separate Internet…

Presents brief guidelines for developing writing assignments based on the author's description (a politicized representation) of postmodern cultural studies. Discusses a composition assignment in which students critique the formal and the hidden curriculum of a class they have taken in the recent past, and in which they also become writing members…

Reports on a method of curriculum design which allows student empowerment while simultaneously promoting essential literacy skills in a developmental-education course. States that students designed their own curriculum through the use of collaborative groups and peer decision making. Finds students continued to sharpen literacy skills throughout…

This article discusses the role of secondary school teachers in developing and implementing effective transition plans for students with severe disabilities. Required components of transition plans are described and guidelines are presented for developing individual transition programs. Educators are urged to promote employment skills and…

Presents information to facilitate a one- to two-hour training session for teachers, other professionals, and parents on how to use peer tutoring to empower children and youth who exhibit challenging behaviors. Defines peer tutoring and presents what research reveals about best practices. Lays down steps for developing and implementing a peer…

A study investigated how providing choice opportunities to children (ages 5-9) with autism impacted their performance during teacher-assigned homework activities. Results showed that providing the students with opportunities to make choices regarding the order to task completion and use of stimulus materials improved participants' accuracy,…

Reviews narratives of resistance in the field of composition and writing studies in order to consider the teacher-student relationship. Suggests that an understanding of the dynamics of this relationship may help find ways to mitigate this component of the teaching of writing. (NH)

Providing a supportive learning environment and engaging students with a variety of abilities in effective learning activities requires a great deal of proficiency that extends beyond knowledge of subject content. Diverse classrooms challenge teachers to understand and accept the existence of academic, behavioral, and cultural diversity. Teachers…

Encouraging students' interest in science has never been more important. Science plays a greater role in everyones lives than ever before, and students who have a solid foundation in science are prepared to pursue a wide range of opportunities in high school, college, and the workplace. Yet many students--particularly girls and students from…

In this paper, I use principles of civic education and social psychology to identify four main classroom contributors to students' pessimistic appraisals of their ability to improve social problems: authoritarian teaching methods, a culture of "doom and gloom," little attention to solutions to social problems, and no linkage of social problems to…