Compared student-teacher perception of discipline and examined how ethnicity, achievement, gender, and position influenced practices. Data from 16 urban high school students and 9 teachers indicated that interpersonal conflicts were more consequential for students of color. Evidence surfaced of disparate perceptions among ethnically diverse…

Discusses the prevalence and power of rituals in school settings, focusing on the potential of rituals to instruct through cognitive and affective channels simultaneously. Notes the positive benefits of rituals such as fairness, cooperation, and respect for others. Describes the three stages of ritual: separation, transition, and incorporation.…

Argues that, while teacher and school efforts are important, the conditions outside of schools hold the key to increasing academic achievement substantially. Family socialization practices in American and Asian families are reviewed; and children's early cognitive and social behaviors are linked to later school behavior, including academic…

Focus group research methods were used to investigate the alignment of inclusive education with other reform efforts at a targeted urban school with 347 students. Results found the teachers, principals, and the parents shared a commitment to sustaining a school community and breaking down the walls of segregation. (Contains references.) (CR)

Describes how the Absorbent Mind uses human tendencies during the first 6 years of life to construct one's own individual self. Maintains that the adult's task is to form the link between the child and the environment so that the human tendencies to explore, orient, order, work, repeat, control errors, be exact, create, invent, and communicate can…

Examines how students use evidence, determines when they add further ideas and claims, and measures progress in understanding light propagation. Uses the Scaffolded Knowledge Integration (SKI) instructional framework for design decisions. Discusses design studies that test and elaborate on the instructional framework. (Contains 33 references.)…

A survey of 123 teachers enrolled in a university principal- preparation program revealed that teachers valued three kinds of principal behaviors: empowering (23 percent), supporting (36 percent), and communicating (41 percent). Praising is less important than treating teachers professionally, demonstrating support, and having an open-door policy.…

Elements aiding block-scheduling implementation at an Ohio Catholic school include a supportive principal, systems thinking, adequate time and resources, benchmarks for quality, responsible faculty decision making, readiness-based staff development, democratic process, process/content coordination, a nonthreatening learning environment, and…

Offers suggestions to librarians on how to teach Internet use and Web searching to beginners. Highlights include active learning, including small group assignments; Web addresses; Web site authority, currency, accuracy, commercialism, and scope; critical thinking skills; the training environment; student exercises; and educational resources for…

A study investigated the effects of major social, economic, and political disruption on the perceptions of 232 Cape Breton (Nova Scotia) teachers concerning their professional lives and identities. Teachers believed they were transmitters of information and values, but felt that those outside the school did not understand the stresses and nuances…

Indiana University Purdue University Columbus reorganized its teacher education program to socialize students to the teaching profession and increase collegiality. Communication between faculty, students, and cooperating elementary schools has increased; America Reads program has facilitated partnerships with local schools and increased exposure…

Mainstream education forces an adult-centric agenda onto young children which is developmentally inappropriate and educationally unnecessary. Parents can nourish their children's love of learning by challenging current educational practices and by letting their children play and experience nature. The 3 R's should be replaced with the 3…

This article suggests a future where accessibility and the universal design of the education environment is no longer an issue and the focus is on universal design for learning. The supports necessary to ensure progress will, from the very beginning, be built into the instructional methods and learning materials. (Contains 1 reference.) (Author/CR)

Describes a pilot study aimed at exploring the possibility of introducing simulation-based homework into junior high school ninth grade science classes studying electric circuits. Analyzes students' views in relation to their prior computer experience and their achievement, and discusses results from questionnaires and interviews that show…

Reports on a comparative assessment of a multimedia learning environment based on a guided discovery approach called CORE (Concept Object Refinement Expression) with two control conditions, lecture and electronic book, in an undergraduate radiography course. Discusses results of qualitative and quantitative measures of effectiveness, pretests and…