Using Paulo Freire's, idea that the aim of education must always be to transform the world so as to liberate oppressed peoples. The authors: Reed, Saunders, and Pfadenhauer-Simonds address this issue by noting that state-backed education systems in the United States, as elsewhere, arguably can be seen as supporting repressive forces that keep…

In a largely standards-driven educational climate, educators are challenged to navigate the tensions between standards-based, scholarly pursuits and the more experiential, student-driven techniques of technology-enabled global education. At a time when these tensions are at their zenith, we need to prioritize global competencies and other…

A learner-centred view of education argues that the learner's needs must be understood and the learner must be engaged within the learning process. Governments advocate "learner-centred" approaches whilst introducing national strategies and systems to reach agreed standards and competencies, often globally determined. There are…

Like teachers in many urban school districts with large numbers of disadvantaged children, the faculty at New Holland Core Knowledge Academy strives to build the foundational skills necessary for later academic success. At New Holland, however, content is king. While many schools have narrowed the curriculum since Congress passed the No Child Left…

At a low-income elementary school in Miami Beach, children learn for themselves, not to impress others. Guided by a privately developed instructional package, the school has embraced such tradition-smashing reforms as teacher-coaches, cooperative learning, whole-language and whole-math curricula, computer-assisted instruction, small classes, and…

Faculty at an Illinois school felt that going beyond test scores to collect more substantive evidence of their curriculum and teaching seemed innovative, but underestimated how important the selection and assembly process was to the children. Over time, faculty learned to "hang loose" about portfolio contents, specify containers, make…

Systematic curricular accommodations reduced the problem behaviors of four elementary students with behavioral disorders. Assessments identified student interests and curricular assignments associated with high levels of problem behavior. Curricular modification was then implemented. Results support adaptations that incorporate student interests…

Discusses a teacher in the middle of completely changing the way she teaches drama and beginning again--by having children teach her. Summarizes what she has learned so far about child-centered drama leadership. (RS)

Considers how the concept of Traveling Literacy Trunk was designed to reach all corners of the state of Oregon with compelling, student-centered, developmentally appropriate writing activities that could be shared with teaching professionals. Outlines 12 steps for developing a Traveling Literacy Trunk. Describes many benefits of the Literacy…

Suggests that there are three powerful ingredients that compose writing workshop block: time, ownership, and response. Notes that the child-centered nature of writing workshop is part of what makes it appeal to students. Considers how the fact that each child is accepted at his or her level allows for many differences in ability. (SG)

A teacher describes activities to increase elementary students' active involvement in their science education. Activities involve development of observational skills, increasing self-motivation, developing prediction skills, and cooperating in joint learning activities. (DB)

As a classroom teacher of art, the author questions the definitive ends that often accompany progressive enterprises in education. He questions the pressure he has experienced to reduce curricular possibilities and learning outcomes to the space of a single document. He argues that planning a learning outcome is "not" an architectural…

Presents insights from interviews with elementary students in the form of lessons learned regarding learner-centered principles and self-determination theory. Children note and endorse learner-centered principles, particularly those addressing their desires for teacher care and support, tasks promoting new learning and increased competence, and…

Describes a south Tucson elementary school's efforts to keep its Hispanic and Native American student population actively engaged through the Educational and Community Change Project. Teachers are reinventing their own beliefs and expectations while constructing class dialog around children's interests and personal theories. A pumpkin…

This paper begins with a brief outline of the philosophical and methodological basis and the corresponding early education classroom practice envisaged and advocated by the current child-centred Irish Primary School Curriculum (1999). In the context of an overall 'fidelity-type' study, which sought to examine the degree to which the aforementioned…