In this article, the author shares the story of her son, Joseph, who is a gifted child. She suggests that parents should allow and even encourage their children to ask questions and explore the different answers, give positive acknowledgment to what they do, and get excited about learning new things with them. Surrounding children with peers who…

I am nurtured by indigenous African musical arts education philosophy and practice, and encountered literary music education and scholarship in adulthood. It is with dual musical sensibilities that I ponder the human mission of school music education. My reflections will derive from experiences of applying African indigenous musical arts in…

Children must develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills because those skills are required for success in any discipline. Consequently, in their mathematical development students need to be able to read, write, speak and listen in mathematical terms. Research indicates that children's literature provides a means to promote such…

Future recreation professionals need the ability to analyze the effects of proposed management actions and stakeholder concerns to make good decisions, maintain public support, and comply with state and federal laws. Importantly, when federal funds, lands, permits or licenses are involved, federal law requires consideration of environmental and…

To help practitioners integrate skills into the teaching of core academic subjects, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills has developed a unified, collective vision for learning known as the Framework for 21st Century Learning. This Framework describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life; it is a…

Nativity schools--there are over forty in urban areas throughout the United States--provide an important alternative to urban middle schools failing to provide their students with an adequate education. Nativity schools, which are privately funded, provide a year-round educational experience for at-risk urban children. They feature small classes,…

US schools fail to engage a significant proportion of adolescent students. Although student engagement is significantly related to academic achievement, there is a dearth of longitudinal research simultaneously examining the impact of personal and contextual factors on student engagement at both individual and school levels. Using a…

The purpose of the U.S. Department of Education's online newsletter "The Education Innovator" is to promote innovative practices in education; to offer features on promising programs and practices; to provide information on innovative research, schools, policies, and trends; and to keep readers informed of key Department priorities and activities.…

This Technical Report is designed to provide technical detail to support the analysis and findings presented in the "Head Start Impact Study Final Report" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, January 2010). Chapter 1 provides an overview of the Head Start Impact Study and its findings. Chapter 2 provides technical information on the…

Communication theorists now concerned with developing better intercultural interactions are suggesting movement from an approach that has been purely analytical to one that is holistic. American society is at a stage where is must move from "dichotomization" to a more humanistic approach that involves unconditional positive regard for others, as…

Organic education, which was introduced into the United States during the last third of the 19th century, was based upon Froebel's ideal of life as a connected whole. The late 19th century was a favorable period for innovation, for its economic prosperity made leaders feel that with the use of scientific methods anything was possible, and its…

Defines environmentalism both as a concept and an activity. As a concept, it encompasses not only environmental conservation but also social, economic, and political issues. As an activity, it focuses on a coordinated, networking, holistic issue approach to environmental problems. Implications of environmentalism (based on the definitions…

Describes a method that permits answering research questions of general importance by examining individuals in a comprehensive, whole-person manner. Discusses their use in two studies of persons with spinal cord injuries. (LLL)

The article discusses the characteristics of holistic teachers, noting that such teachers respect children's learning capacities to help learning happen. She suggests that holistic teachers are children who have managed to grow up still learners. (CL)

A phonics lesson with a learning disabled adult is analyzed to illustrate the author's contention that learning and learning dysfunctions cannot be explained primarily in cognitive terms which seek to reduce complex social-psychological interactions to narrow mental explanations. (CL)