In a learning community, everyone must participate in decision making. Involving students in developing classroom rules, solving community problems, and reviewing school and district policies has lasting benefits. Service learning, mentoring, and mediation programs help students develop civic responsibility, interpersonal competence, and…

A program in which 12 seventh- and eighth-grade students with learning disabilities and/or culturally diverse backgrounds participated with nondisabled peers in service learning is described. The students improved their social skills and self-esteem through community service with younger students and senior citizens. The article offers a rationale…

A teacher of fifth to seventh graders with learning disabilities describes a community-based gardening project which served elderly residents of a rest home while exposing the children to elderly people and encouraging development and application of environmental, writing, mathematics, and communication skills. The project integrated curriculum in…

University of Pennsylvania professor Lee Benton saw fire-ravaged city blocks in Philadelphia as an opportunity to involve the university in remaking K-12 education. Penn successfully initiated various community-outreach programs, focusing on building a community school and encouraging cooperation between college students and neighborhoods. (MLH)

Describes a partnership between a middle school and a community-based retirement center in which middle school students taught senior citizens computer skills. Discusses the pedagogical value of the program in creating learning activities that students found functional. (JPB)

Presents an upper-division Spanish class combining theoretical readings on literacy and hands-on tutoring at reading programs for Spanish-speaking adults as a model for a course with service learning. Undergraduates gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of key issues concerning literacy while providing a needed service to a neglected…

A survey of 166 youth in the California Conservation Corps (CCC) examined the use of the CCC for career development. Thirty percent of those surveyed had not completed high school. About one-fourth of respondents hoped CCC would lead to a permanent career, but most had joined to develop their job skills and explore career opportunities. (TD)

Describes how "Implementing Urban Missions" mini-grants proved successful in encouraging personnel at Ohio Dominican College in Columbus to forge learning partnerships with community agencies and residents; the grants also served to identify future leaders in the ongoing implementation of the college's urban mission and leveraged support…

Inclusionary practices may appease critics, but have actually caused a decline in rigorous academic options for high achievers. Mainstreamed gifted kids have fewer chances to challenge one another. Full inclusion for all special-needs students is tomorrow's bad practice. Programs featuring flexibility, acceleration, and variety are promising…

Describes the evolution of DePaul University's (Illinois) efforts to build ties with its surrounding community through service learning and a week-long freshman immersion in issues related to Chicago. The institution's own history is chronicled briefly, and some of the inherent difficulties in establishing and sustaining meaningful community-based…

This article defines service learning and describes service learning as a distinct pedagogy from field-based professional programs. Fundamental components of service learning courses and guidelines for developing, implementing, and evaluating service learning courses in special education programs for majors and non-majors are presented. (Contains…

This article discusses the importance of affective education in fostering emotional development and leadership skills, interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences, and the affective needs of gifted and talented students. The teacher's role in integrating an affective component in the curriculum is described and strategies are provided, including…

Scholars recently have called for a more civic-based approach to education. In this article, we report on the use of a civic participation exercise in a large public speaking class. The assignment guides students to employ concepts from the course to organize a community event designed to productively affect a specific civic cause. Gaining…

The purpose of this case study was to examine the effects of a code-based reading tutorial in English for eight beginning at-risk readers who were English learners (ELs) and for their preservice teacher-tutors. Eight undergraduate preservice special education teachers tutored the ELs twice weekly for a total of 15 hr to fulfill a required service…

Service-learning classes taught by professional middle school counselors and teachers can help middle school students meet comprehensive guidance program goals related to academic/learning development, life/career development, personal/social development, and multicultural/global citizenship. An example is provided of a service-learning class…