With the right support and guidance from adults, even very young children can become resilient enough to weather the most traumatic disaster and grow stronger from the experience. Adults must provide support (love, discussion, and stability) and help their children build inner strength and learn to communicate and cope. (SM)

The James Madison University (Virginia) experience in implementing the "Student Learning Imperative" is described. Challenges to be met in creating programs, services, and curricula focused on learning and a strong sense of intentionality are discussed including circumstances for change; compatibility of project and community values;…

Being strategic at facilitating change in the quality of accommodations employed on behalf of students with learning disabilities means focusing on teacher-specific variables. This article provides a critical analysis of these variables, presents a triadic synergistic model for implementing change, and discusses the development of software for…

Describes a computer-assisted, interdisciplinary course in decision making developed to promote student participation and critical thinking. Students participate in 20 interactive exercises that utilize and illustrate psychological and economic concepts. Follow-up activities include receiving background information, group discussions, text…

Presents a case study of a middle school with discipline problems leading to high suspension rates. The school implemented a voluntary peer mediation program as part of a comprehensive conflict resolution program. Discusses the program's objectives, selection and training of students, implementation, supervision of mediators, and program…

Presents several types of functions which fit a given set of data and create opportunities for classroom discussion comparing different kinds of functions and identifying some of the potential hazards associated with extrapolation from best-fit functions. (DDR)

Describes a unit that applies constructivist teaching methods to a science concept. Contains mini-lessons in math that present to students information that they need to know in order to perform their experiments. Gives students the opportunity to construct their own knowledge about the natural phenomenon of light as they apply their mathematical…

Describes the use of writing activities as tools for teaching mathematics while helping students develop communication and reasoning skills. Writing takes the form of formal essays about mathematical problems, writing to prompts, or focused journal writing. Students learn to clarify, refine, and consolidate thinking. Children learn mathematics…

One of five articles in the second section "Deepening Relationships through PDS Brings Change in Practice," this article details some of the hard-to-discuss problems that occur in professional development school partnerships, suggesting that discussion cases can help facilitate communication. A sample discussion case is presented, with suggestions…

Recounts a week-long environmental program that revolved around staff dressing up as Alpha Centaurions to point out pollution on Earth. Activities were chosen to teach students about ways in which our environment is being ruined and students were encouraged to look for solutions. Activities included zoo visits, ecological study of Brockhill Valley…

Documents the implementation of a collaborative model of consultation between general and special education teachers. Presents content outcomes for students who historically have been pulled out of content classes for basic skills remediation. Focuses on the feasibility of restructuring regular and special education to serve students with diverse…

Defines inclusion and the importance of inclusive education. Suggests that reciprocity built on self-empowerment, mutual need, ethics, and rationality builds partnerships for inclusion. Illustrates creating reciprocal partnerships by describing one effort to build a developmentally appropriate classroom. Describes a seven-step exchange model for…

Describes a model class for instructing general and special educators in best practices in inclusive education. The class emphasized cooperative learning and decision making, highly structured problem solving activities, and use of in vivo case studies involving children with disabilities in local schools. These components were designed to model…

Described is an integrated science and mathematics activity which is an extension of the Elementary Science Study unit "The Clay Boat." Discussed are prerequisite skills, science and mathematics concepts covered, objectives, content background, materials, procedures, and evaluation for this activity. (CW)

Described is a learning activity that requires students to observe, read, and interpret graphs and organize and describe data. Included are the grade level, materials, objectives, prerequisites, directions, answers to questions, and copies of handouts. (KR)