Explores the beliefs, assumptions, and values held by a group of Canadian music educators about the supports and barriers facing their programs. Assumes that educators' knowledge is socially constructed as well as holistic and mythic. Identifies four myths (aptitude and achievement, talent, process, and equal opportunity) that influence music…

Teachers from two urban elementary schools completed surveys about their multicultural education practices. The surveys examined demographics, content integration, instructional and grouping practices, and parent-community involvement practices. Results indicated that teachers were integrating some aspects of multicultural curriculum, and they…

Stresses need for early childhood educators to be prepared for prenatal drug exposed children, who may exhibit multiple disabilities in many areas. Suggests that cognitive and behavioral extremes preclude a list of best practices with this population. Recommends small, stable learning environments. Discusses need for educators and care providers…

Describes the Reggio Emilia (Italy) model for preschool education. Addresses the perceived difficulties of transferring the program to U.S. schools, focusing on differences in patterns of thinking, educational attitudes, and cultural conventions between the two cultures. Provides perspectives for change and adaptation. (SD)

Argues that the middle school philosophy must address physical, psychological, intellectual, social, moral, and ethical needs of young adolescents. Presents 10 different methods of instruction that teachers can utilize to meet students' needs in order to make learning more productive and to balance student-centered and subject-centered…

Evaluated effectiveness of a multiage learning project in terms of an assessment of classroom quality, and teacher concerns about multiage grouping and computer use in the classroom. Found that participating teachers modified their classrooms to make them more developmentally appropriate, and they increased their use of computers for their own…

Interviews with 30 successful undergraduate Latino students in a highly selective university revealed that although most students came from "at-risk" socioeconomic backgrounds, they had access to specific personal and environmental resources that made them invulnerable to negative consequences of educational risk. Stresses the importance…

Examines demographic changes in the United States since 1980s influencing the recent effort to assert English over other languages. Key issues include: efforts to ensure English dominance in English-Only initiatives; court rulings on English-Only regulations in the workplace; and bilingual education legislation. Reviews current research on…

Articulates the need for international cooperation concerning environmental issues and the promotion of sustainable development. Discusses several international treaties and conventions addressing specific environmental concerns. Lists a number of worldwide environmental concerns, including fresh water, arable land, air pollution, oceans, forests,…

This study explored how preservice elementary teachers experienced coursework and field experiences that fostered commitment to socially and pedagogically progressive teaching, especially development of against-the-grain perspectives. Interviews and observations indicated that against-the-grain perspectives evolved from complex interactions of…

Describes many environmental education projects conducted in schools in Suffolk County, England. Projects include One World Week, which prepared students for exchange visits with Kenya by encouraging awareness of world problems, especially those of poverty and distribution of resources. Other projects were comprised of outdoor programs, recycling…

Studies the use of microcomputers in four elementary school classrooms and their effect on classroom organization, teacher-student relations, and curriculum. Concludes that how people use a microcomputer, and not the machine's inherent features, determines how a microcomputer will be used in education. (FMW)

Examines the effects of economic stress on children and their families through changes in family relationships and economic adaptations. Uses data from two longitudinal studies of child development begun during the Great Depression. Discusses findings in relation to an interactional model of the process by which families adapt to stressful times.…

Examines the current status of cultural diversity in middle school education theory, suggests some developmental characteristics of young adolescents of color that are often overlooked, and proposes some ways that middle school education could be modified to be more responsive to the ethnic and cultural diversity of early adolescents. (SM)

Investigates the use of computer conferencing in a second-language context with five English-for-Academic-Purposes students for the purposes of conducting discussions and introducing the students to writing as a process. Students dominated during discussions and received increased commentary on their writing; although the technology did not cause…