To encourage students of an upper division writing class to recognize the nuances of voice or tone in their written work, one instructor began the first day of each class by discussing voice and tone. After the instructor reviewed their first-day writings, students were paired with a peer partner. At the end of each semester students were…

This book addresses the importance of student involvement in improving the quality of schools. It demonstrates how bringing together students of all achievement levels using empowering activities helps everyone. Chapter 1 demonstrates how student involvement can be used to alter the culture of a school and includes examples of specific projects to…

This paper introduces the subjectivist teaching/learning paradigm (STP), which uses students' social and cultural enculturation processes to structure affect-laden constructivist learning experiences focused in the subject area being taught. STP uses powerful learning experiences to promote two goals: enculturation into the subject area and…

This report examines five dimensions of various initiatives intended to empower students. It is based on two case studies of schools belonging to the Coalition of Essential Schools, a school-reform project aimed at improving teaching and learning in American schools. The report focuses on the level of power that administrators and teachers…

This paper examines specific pedagogical themes, findings, and implications for dance education. The focus is on the topic of educating the student body in dance. The paper draws on a preliminary introduction and analysis from a previous study and accompanying course which pointed out a common dominant focus in dance education (an externalized…

This videotape presents the keynote speeches of the 1997 Hawai'i Literacy Hui conference on the theme of "Changing Lives, Building Communities." Featured in the videotape are two speeches: Linda Darling-Hammond's "The Right To Learn and Teach: Towards Democratic Education," in which she discusses how authentic assessment in the context of the new…

Summarizes a study of four southeastern inner-city high schools. In the two neighborhood schools, students were treated like children, educators were not trusted, and the curriculum was considered irrelevant. In citywide schools, these conditions were absent. Whereas the neighborhood schools embraced a philosophy of consciousness, education in…

Examines attempts by black high school student activists in Chicago in the 1960s to gain community control of their schools. Their combined efforts did not lead to decentralization, but instead resulted in more black administrators and curriculum changes, as well as increased awareness of inadequate education, lack of black administrators, lack of…

Uses the author's experiences to illustrate the challenge of teaching in today's schools. Discusses ways to provide a climate in which students feel they hold ownership, and have relationships with the community of learners around them to engage in discussion about the subject material and further develop their own thinking patterns. Presents…

Describes a master's level course for teachers called "Foundations of Reading Instruction," which was built around students choosing their own goal of what they wanted to learn about the teaching of reading. Discusses the structure of their in-class workshops, goals, midway self-evaluations, the last weeks of their work on their goals, final…

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)

This article provides a rationale for the use of choice in home and school environments, advocates for the systematic and careful use of choice as an intervention strategy, provides examples for embedding choice, and discusses guidelines for use and factors that may limit the use of choice. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Notes that for women and girls, anxiety about technology is compounded by traditional gender-power dynamics that often position technology as male, and by the development of technological literacy as a product to be mastered rather than nurtured. Questions the extent to which web-based literacies can be taught while also fostering technological…

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;…

Following a presentation of Rita and Kenneth Dunn's learning styles model at a NAESP convention, staff at a South Dakota elementary school began teaching students according to their own perceptual strengths. This article profiles teachers' efforts and presents an observation checklist for preparing individualized learning style inventories and…