Imagine not only helping kids reach their potential academically, but as citizens in society as well. In this updated edition of Jorge Valenzuela's book, you will learn how! Take project-based learning (PBL)--in which students develop educational skills like research, critical thinking, and teamwork--to the next level by enhancing it with personal…

Formal mentoring has been an effective approach to mitigate challenges facing underserved youth and contributes to observable improvements in behavior, relationships, and emotional well-being (Rhodes, 2008). Mentored youth appear to gain improvements in peer and parent relationships and school performance, while also engaging in lower levels of…

Background: The Dogwood Mountain School System (DMSS) faces the challenge of trying to address the apparent drop-off of female student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and increase female student interest and engagement in STEM. Purpose: The purpose of this action research study was to understand how individual…

In an era of reductionist approaches to teaching and assessment, this dissertation returns to the fundamental question: "What is the value of writing, particularly poetry writing, in our society today?" The poet's central task, to abstract reality through symbols, requires profound cognitive and emotional work (Vendler, 2004; Steele,…

This report documents the multicultural education programs funded by the New York City Board of Education in 1989-90, the second year of the program. Although a formal evaluation was not conducted, program implementation was documented through interviews and surveys of district staff. An overall summary and descriptions of program components are…

The pilot project of the District of Columbia Public Schools Community Service Initiative was implemented during the spring of the 1991-92 school year. Two schools participating in the project were surveyed (including 35 students and 2 principals) regarding views on initiative merits and outcomes. Both schools engaged students in community service…

This paper describes the development and implementation of an adventure-based counseling program with six groups of junior high and high school students having severe emotional disturbances in Riverside County, California. The program's objectives were: (1) to improve students' communication skills, self-confidence, trust, respect for others, and…