Suzuki believed that all human beings are endowed with remarkable musical ability and can learn to play musical instruments in the same way they learn to speak. The Suzuki method of teaching music and its evolution in the United States are discussed. (RM)

As a follow up on last week's article on the Alum Rock voucher experiment (AA 523 678), this article puts the Conservative case against vouchers. (Editor/RK)

Blending philosophy, research, and three decades of practice, the author offers an engaging discussion of essential principles of timeless learning, including attention, contemplation, connection, participation, responsibility, wholeness, and joy. Educators in today's schools can apply these principles, models, and methods to inform instruction in…

In computer-based simulations, students must bring a wide range of relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities to bear jointly as they solve meaningful problems in a learning domain. To function effectively as an assessment, a simulation system must additionally be able to evoke and interpret observable evidence about targeted knowledge in a manner…

This paper presents an overview of the theory of situated cognition by providing its origin, a listing of its main principles and then discussing in detail the principles of, authentic learning environments, legitimate peripheral participation, and assessment. It also provides two examples of the application of situated cognition principles. The…

This guide to developing literacy skills with deaf and hard of hearing children stresses the flexible use of various methods based on the needs of individual children. The paper begins by examining selected methods and approaches to literacy instruction, citing ways that these might or might not benefit students depending upon implementation. This…

This Technical Paper focuses on principles for teaching problem solving. Part 1 addresses the need to teach problem solving. Part 2 defines problem solving skills, and describes: general problem solving models of the 1960s and 1970s, current problem solving models, declarative knowledge, mental models, expert versus novice knowledge, procedural…

Although most educators agree that the primary goal of education is student achievement, many believe that this goal has become incongruent with the way that educational institutions function. Community college professionals, in particular, have taken the lead in proposing a new paradigm of learning for the educational process. This digest will…

A vigorous debate within the U.S. Catholic community questions the efficacy of Catholic schools. To explicate what many Catholics believe is the most appropriate educational program for youth, the educational philosophy, history, and theology of Catholic education are presented here. It is hoped that by isolating these principles, those who…

Administrators and board members often wonder how their respective governing bodies measure up to others. To help them gauge their success, some benchmarks that diocesan, elementary and secondary school boards, commissions, and councils can use are presented here. The information was gathered through surveys, the results of which are coupled with…

This fastback document presents the results of an opinion survey of middle-school students, parents, and teachers in South Carolina. Because no surveys in the literature had combined responses from these three groups, researchers asked 4,940 students, 735 teachers, and 2,576 parents about their attitudes toward school, students, and teachers. The…

This book provides some real-world examples of portfolios that have been used for programmatic purposes. It then draws upon those examples to create a framework for thinking about educational systems and the roles that portfolios might play in them. Following the preface, the book contains 10 chapters. The first chapter provides definitions for…

This booklet contains the reflections of a lifelong educator. It examines American education over the last 35 years and focuses on those conditions that have most influenced education in the United States. The text opens with an analysis of the family, followed by a discussion of various legislative initiatives that were intended to nurture all…

This report is based, in part, on a conference that examined the implications of virtual schools for public education. It also draws on other studies of online education to highlight issues that policymakers should consider when developing virtual schools. The document presents three major findings: (1) Virtual schools are an important tool for…

Noting that the recent interest in gardening with young children has resulted in a variety of programs but little support to teachers or horticulturists on how to understand the developmental needs of children and how to adapt gardening activities to those needs, this paper presents principles and goals of developmentally appropriate gardening.…