How might a tertiary English teacher use Garth Boomer's ideas on "teaching against the grain" to challenge the rules and assumptions that dominate the Academic Language and Learning (ALL) industry in the university sector today? How might such a teacher use Boomer's ideas to enact "emancipatory pedagogies" (or something like…

The model presented is intended to return discipline to a legitimate place in education and educational research; it focuses on three elements--pupil development, ecological factors, and disciplinary approaches. (DS)

Argues that to understand schooling effects on students with learning problems, researchers and educators must consider both student characteristics and the characteristics of their schools and classrooms, including structural characteristics of classrooms, the affective climate of classrooms, and the risky business of school as seen by the public…

This paper argues that the creation of communities of literacy practice in classrooms can contribute to students' development of learnings of and about language, literacy, and texts. Such development can occur when literacy learning is seen as a social practice shaped by complex and dynamic participants and events. In these communities,…

Fostering the lifelong habit of reading is a vitally important goal that educators should embrace. When teaching and learning are connected to lifetime literacy efforts, students are in a better position to learn effectively and to develop the love of learning. Many teachers and administrators have demonstrated a keen interest in helping their…

Proposes that classrooms that encourage critical thinking possess distinguishing features that can assess whether critical thinking is a regular occurrence. Suggests that a critical thinking classroom commonly reflects the following attributes: frequent questions, developmental tension, fascination with the contingency of conclusions, and active…

In so far as education has acknowledged creativity at all, it has commonly focused on "allowing" rather than "developing" creativity, on arts-based "expression" rather than broader or deeper kinds of creativity; and on the role of techniques rather than dispositions. This paper seeks to redress the balance by arguing…

Describes the development of a safe, caring community in the classroom where students feel cared for, where they are able to learn, and where they learn to care for others. Describes the implementation of an assortment of community-building activities divided into two areas: establishment of rules and establishment of rituals and routines. (VWC)

This article describes common student traits found from analysis of self-reported experiences of six radically accelerated gifted youths. It concludes that intellectual ability far above the average and student eagerness to accelerate are prerequisites for successful radical acceleration. Descriptions by two students of their accelerated programs…

Research and theory indicates that successful teaching and learning occur when activities are focused on the individual learner's cognitive and affective needs. However, a strong emphasis toward cognitive development, encouraged by competency based education and back to basics movements, continues to influence classroom procedures. Children should…

States that the music educator should help guide students toward heightened self-awareness, a sense of personal value, and an appreciation of others. Describes four elements necessary to create a value-oriented environment: (1) the life-oriented classroom, (2) the expressive teacher, (3) the expressive student, and (4) self-enrichment. (GEA)

A high school teacher of language and reading in a school for the deaf shares her growth in developing her own writing workshop model. Stressed are the importance of trust, of modeling, and of students and teachers making learning their own. (DB)

Earlier practices in the teaching of literature offered one standard of success and one method of lesson delivery for everyone. This did not make it possible for students to reach their individual potentials. The resulting idea of attending to the individual formed the basis for ability grouping. However, placement into lower groups resulted in…

Presents a hyperbolic scenario in which a ruthless writing teacher overlooks her young students' progress in other areas of writing and admonishes them because their penmanship is poor. (AEW)

Discusses the necessity of student-student interactions for enhancing achievement, socialization, and healthy psychological development. Presents evidence concerning the constructive impact of the appropriate use of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic goal structures and the power of effectively managed controversy within the classroom.…