This review concerns the influences of the community on learning. These influences are numerous and complex, and include family, culture, and local customs. This review analyzes representative cross-sections of the literature within three domains: community constructs, the program literature, and the research literature. (BW)

Compared the amount of resources (time and money) families (N=235) devoted to pursuing interpersonal relationships and income-generating activities in an affluent society (U.S.) to a less affluent but rapidly developing society (Mexico). Results showed that the U.S. sample invested less resources pursuing material payoffs than did the Mexican…

Reports results of a poll of faculty rhetorical values, student rhetorical values, and student perceptions of faculty writing preferences. Concludes that faculty members in all disciplines need to communicate their desire for clear language by responding actively as readers to student texts. (MM)

Perhaps no other historian has had a more profound and revolutionary impact on American education than Howard Zinn. This is the first book devoted to his views on education and its role in a democratic society. "Howard Zinn on Democratic Education" describes what is missing from school textbooks and in classrooms--and how we move beyond these…

Mathematics, contrary to social sciences, is seen by many as value-free. Implications of different theories on teaching and learning applied to education including mathematics education opened doors to see mathematics in a way that it has its own values. Values can be categorized into three categories: general educational values, mathematical…

Youth, its objectives, readiness for life, education are the future of Lithuania. One of the major solutions of a young person is related to the choice of a future profession, and this solution is influenced by many factors: certain demands, calls and interests, capabilities and intellect, character and temperament, goals and values. The results…

The Calista Elders Council (CEC) is a nonprofit organization representing the 1,330 Yup'ik elders 65 and older in the Alaskan Yup'ik homeland. The CEC seeks to preserve and transmit Yup'ik values and traditions through a five-fold plan that includes youth culture camps. An old summer fishing camp on Nelson Island became the site of a youth culture…

"Every Child" is Australia's premier early childhood publication, aimed at anyone involved in the care and education of children from birth to eight years--in particular child care professionals, teachers, child care students and the parents of young children. Published quarterly, it contains informative and entertaining articles on such…

This study examined teacher characteristics influencing the frequency of computer use in preschool classrooms and explored the effectiveness of a 3-hour computer workshop emphasizing social collaboration at the computer on enhancing teacher perceptions. Participating in the study were 38 Head Start teachers and day care providers in rural Western…

In this first issue of Forum Focus, we summarize emerging research and practical evidence that quality matters and push forward to ask the questions: Is quality measurable? Is it malleable? We bring a youth-centered lens to our review, looking for examples that define quality from the perspective of what young people need to heal, grow and…

The Rating Ethical Content System (RECS) was developed for adults, but the question remains whether children can recognize moral themes in media with the same competency as adults. The current study aims to test a modified version of the existing scale (RECS-K) for use by children in order to determine whether children can recognize ethical…

The Fifth National Forum of the Coalition for Community Schools (Baltimore, Maryland, June 16, 2006) provided a historic opportunity for participants to hear two of America's most distinguished educators, Drs. James Comer and Edmund Gordon. These giants in their fields engaged in an animated and thought-provoking exchange on the educational…

Can we assume that because someone is intellectually aware about gender-inclusive pedagogy they will actualize this awareness in their classes? No, for that reason, the aim of the current study is to explore and widen an understanding whether an individual can walk the walk as well as talk the talk. This is a qualitative study in nature, conducted…

This is an activity-based teacher's guide to fostering positive group interaction through imagined experience and discussion at Key Stages 2 and 3. In a series of interactive workshops, each one providing a context, a scenario and a list of characters; pupils are invited to engage in discussion, debate and negotiation to solve problems and meet…

This research is the product of blending two pertinent questions. The first question is: "What are the guidelines and behaviors that define a Constructivist classroom?" There have not been a great number of pedagogical tools that discuss and summarize concrete, observable Constructivist behaviors. The second question is: "Is there a unique form of…