Asserts that by using the language of praise, which is well intentioned but manipulative and judgemental, teachers engineer the desired student behavior. Suggests that statements of encouragement can better recognize students' contributions and growth while refraining from judging the students themselves. (MM)

Explores the cooperation and resistance teachers often encounter as they begin to use a whole language approach in their classrooms, and discusses whole language as a teaching attitude--returning the freedom of learning to students, but still with requisite responsibilities for providing students with all the options from which they may choose.…

Interviews prominent educator and researcher Gloria Ladson-Billings, whose research focuses on preparing preservice educators to successfully teach in a diverse society and on improving the achievement of culturally diverse students. Explores what it means to develop a culturally relevant pedagogy and how teachers might think about community in…

Interviews poor urban parents and first-grade students about attitudes toward school and education. Finds parents are committed to their children's success in school. Examines things parents do to keep their children on track; parents' descriptions of teachers in their own lives; how grandparents help keep students "on track"; and the teacher's…

Discusses materials in the ERIC system exploring the effect of teacher attitudes toward student dialects on student language performance. Suggests that teachers recognize the relationship between cultural identity and language use to clear away obstacles to student success. (HTH)

Outlines the beliefs people have about speech styles, how and why people modify speech styles, and the role of speech style in social identity. Discusses educational implications of these findings. (RL)