Maria Montessori developed a form of education in the first half of the last century that came to be called by her surname, and research indicates it often has positive outcomes. In the years since its development, tens of thousands of schools worldwide have called their programs "Montessori," yet implementations vary widely, leading to…

This paper discusses the instruction of adult performance outcomes and life skills in classes for students with mental disabilities. Basic considerations in teaching life skills include teaching for lifelong learning, teaching for relevancy, and teaching beyond textbooks and classrooms. Several strategies have contributed to the success of…

Research has shown mentoring to be a powerful alternative education and dropout prevention strategy for students at risk. This book is designed to help teachers, school administrators, case managers in the juvenile justice system, and others who work with at-risk students develop mentoring programs. Chapter 1, "Teachers Can Restructure Education…

Looping is a very simple concept, whereby a teacher moves with his or her students to the next grade level, rather than sending them another teacher at the end of the school year. Schools all over the country are finding that this simple idea is having a profound effect on their students. This handbook describes the many benefits of looping and…

"Looping" is a practice that allows single-grade teachers to remain with the same class for 2 or more years. Organized in a question-and-answer format, this book answers 72 questions about looping commonly asked by teachers and parents, including questions about its benefits, disadvantages, and implementation. Chapters include: (1) "What Is…

Outdoor education provides a setting in which students learn to discover things for themselves and should be an integral part of school curriculum. Beginning as soon as students and teachers step beyond the classroom, outdoor education employs methods of observation/discovery, research, and reflection. Small group instruction allowing full use of…

Off-campus education is an experiential method of learning that integrates a student's classroom studies with on-the-job experiences obtained at an employing organization. Off-campus education programs are based on a partnership among the school, the parents, the student, and the employing organization, with each of the partners sharing the…

A multiyear, multiage experience, combined with what is known about collaborative learning, learning styles, and multiple intelligences, grouping practices, and the success of inclusion in such a setting, promises to give all children a real opportunity for success in the classroom. Many schools have implemented multiage programs successfully, but…

This book provides practicing educators with strategies for the successful implementation of cooperative learning in the classroom. Chapter 1 discusses the components of cooperative learning and how this practice meets the needs of students. Chapter 2 explains the process of restructuring the classroom into a cooperative environment. An 11-step…

The second year of a project that developed and implemented a model for on-bus instruction during travel time from two high schools to area vocational centers demonstrated that such an innovative delivery system was viable and effective. All units from Pollock's "A Curriculum Guide for Pre-Employment Skills" were adapted for use in the project.…

This final report and curriculum guide are products of a project conducted to improve existing at-risk programs through cooperation between vocational and academic personnel by coordinating lesson plans. The following project activities are described: (1) a literature review on the diverse needs of at-risk students enrolled in an alternative to…

This volume, the first in a two-volume guide to provide vocational educators in Massachusetts with some practical tools for planning and implementing student recruitment strategies in their local areas, discusses the planning and design considerations that have an impact on a student recruitment program and highlights promising practices used in…