Over the last decade, Eleanor Drago-Severson has authored or coauthored four books on adult learning as key to leadership development in schools. organizations--is evident in each of the publications. The titles include the following: (1) "Helping Teachers Learn: Principal Leadership for Adult Growth and Development"; (2) "Leading…

This article presents a review of an introductory essay and three chapters in "Part I, Section B: Managing Curriculum" of "The SAGE Handbook of Curriculum and Instruction" (F. M. Connelly, M. F. He, J. I. Phillion, Eds.; Sage Publications, 2008). The introductory essay ["Part I: Curriculum in Practice. Introductory Essay" (Ian Westbury. pp. 1-5)]…

This article presents a review of three chapters in "Part I, Section B: Managing Curriculum" of "The SAGE Handbook of Curriculum and Instruction" (F. M. Connelly, M. F. He, J. I. Phillion, Eds.; Sage Publications, 2008). The author finds that these chapters ["Structuring Curriculum: Technical, Normative, and Political Considerations" (Kevin G.…

"Breaking Ranks II" and "Breaking Ranks in the Middle" both call for students to master "academically rigorous essential learnings" that have been established by the school, and students need a strong foundation in reading and writing if this is to happen. There is no doubt that literacy instruction in the early grades is an essential beginning,…

Reviews two videos. "Caregivers Guide for Drug Exposed Infants" addresses the effects of fetal drug exposure on children's physical, emotional, and social development and illustrates caregiving techniques. "Foundations for Being a Successful Director" offers professionals advice on stress in the workplace, taking care of…

Discusses two current monograph publications that provide frameworks for adult learning approaches that stress active, participatory, and reflective learning experiences for early care and education professionals, in an effort to eliminate passive learning by adults. A constructivist teacher-education approach is drawn from both works. (SD)

Reviews four comprehensive works for beginning and experienced early child care educators: (1) "Supporting Young Learners: Ideas for Preschool and Day Care Providers" (Brickman and Taylor); (2) "A Child Goes Forth: A Curriculum Guide for Preschool Children," (Taylor); (3) "Early Childhood Curriculum" (Catron and Allen); and (4) "A Practical Guide…

The new report of the Holmes Group, "Tomorrow's Schools of Education," is a simplistic attack on university-based schools of education and calls for their radical transformation and the adoption of one set of standards. It is argued that schools of education can develop individual approaches to future challenges. (SLD)

The insistence of the Holmes Group, in its recent report on schools of education, that schools of education must focus exclusively on the preparation of teachers and that faculty should concentrate their research on professional development, would severely limit the potential contributions of educational research. (SLD)

The "Teachers' Learning Project" (1999), by John Smythe and colleagues, is pitched at Australian teachers, but is adaptable to England and elsewhere. Rather than prescribing theories and practices, this publication supports critical reflection by providing suggestions and structures for gathering evidence, discussing practice, and…

Reviews five books for educators: (1) "Once upon a Folktale: Capturing the Folklore Process with Children" (Blatt); (2) "Integrated Studies in the Middle Grades: Dancing through Walls" (Stevenson, Carr); (3) "Conflict in Child and Adolescent Development" (Schantz, Hartup); (4) "Ways of Assessing Children and…

Reviews 12 professional books dealing with the following topes: (1) children's literature; (2) literacy development; (3) young writers; (4) discovery science and nature; (5) whole-language resources on butterflies and on dinosaurs; (6) mathematics; (7) engaging children in literacy; (8) early childhood curriculum; (9) the High/Scope Perry…

Reviews some of the central insights from the preceding chapters of this issue as they relate to historical marker events from the past three decades that have influenced the evaluation profession and expanded notions of evaluation use. (Author/SLD)

Maintains that this highly readable book provides practical opportunities for teachers to participate fully in research. Topics in the book include autobiographical writing, developing a research framework, working with students as coresearchers, and research as professional development. Notes that the book's serious omissions include the lack of…

Lists five professional periodicals which fit the time and financial constraints of classroom teachers. Reviews "Language Arts,""The New Advocate,""Educational Leadership,""Phi Delta Kappan,""Learning 90," and "Teaching PreK-8." (MG)