Schools are adopting social emotional learning (SEL) programs, intending to provide students with intrapersonal and interpersonal skills to better prepare them for life. Transformative SEL is designed to promote the building of relationships between diverse students and educators to build more just schools and society. Because SEL models are…

With content and language integrated learning (CLIL) programs being increasingly introduced in mainstream education, the onus is now on catering to diversity and on ensuring CLIL enhances content and language learning in over- and underachievers alike. This is no mean feat, particularly considering that strong claims have been made for the lack of…

This article argues that the instructional scaffolding metaphor may be reconceived as distributed scaffolding when multiple means of influence are provided in a service-learning setting. In the service-learning course described here, the professor's role is largely as designer of activity settings for preservice teacher candidates, through…

Scientific knowledge often appears to contradict many students' religious beliefs. Indeed, the assumptions of science appear contradictory to the metaphysical claims of many religions. This conflict is most evident in discussions of biological evolution. Teachers, in attempts to limit the controversy, often avoid this topic or teach it…

This article reframes the concept of comprehension as a social and intellectual practice. It reviews current approaches to reading instruction for linguistically and culturally diverse, indigenous and low socioeconomic students (SES), noting an emphasis on comprehension as autonomous skills. The four resources model (Freebody & Luke, 1990) is…

Is meeting diverse learning needs through differentiation incompatible with the high-stakes testing that is now a way of life for many teachers and students across the nation? Recognizing that testing is here to stay for the foreseeable future, this article considers ways to bring differentiation and high-stakes testing together for the benefit of…

In her book, Other People's Children, Lisa Delpit (1996) described how popular progressive pedagogies of that time like Whole language, while claiming to represent the best learning of all students, did not in fact match the learning needs of the culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students with whom she worked. She linked those pedagogies…

This article describes the ways in which the mathematics department of an urban, ethnically diverse school brought about high and equitable mathematics achievement. The teachers employed heterogeneous grouping and complex instruction, an approach designed to counter status differences in classrooms. As part of this approach teachers encouraged…

In spite of the growing linguistic diversity in U.S. classrooms, many teachers are not being adequately prepared to work with English language learners (ELLs). One area of particular concern for teachers is how to manage today's linguistically diverse classrooms. This article suggests ways educators can reflect on English language learners' needs…

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an approach that teaches self-regulation, self-monitoring, and social skills in school settings. SEL has been shown to be an effective method of reducing negative social interactions and increasing academic achievement. This article relates the experiences of one intermediate school principal and her staff as…