The Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) is being implemented in Alberta school jurisdictions and charter schools in the 2000-01 school year. While the "Framework for the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement," December 1999, provides the AISI background, goals, principles, considerations, clarifications, and…

"Mind the Gap!" provides practical advice to help teachers in both phases bridge the gap between primary and secondary language learning, outlining the importance of key players sharing teaching skills, knowledge about the pupils' achievement and experiences. The book considers initiatives at national, local and school level which support…

Now mandated in a number of states, student portfolios are being adopted by many local school systems. Using the metaphor of travel, this guide presents practical and innovative ideas for working with student-managed portfolios--from planning and preparation to maintenance and evaluation. After describing what portfolios are and offering a…

Three years of helping faculty members at a state university learn computing technology yielded the following lessons: (1) for faculty members, the ownership of a computer is an emotional event during which computers are viewed successively as glorified typewriters, status symbols, and tools; (2) even to highly knowledgeable individuals, learning…

This paper focuses on the learning experiences of two college students enrolled in an experientially based art education course. The students, "Beth" and "Alissa," were interviewed regarding their responses to viewing an art exhibit. The students also completed a writing assignment incorporating personal contemplations about…

Only when everyone on campus, particularly academic affairs and student affairs staff, shares the responsibility for student learning will significant progress be made. This paper presents insights on learning and the implications for pedagogy, curricula, learning environments, and assessments. Details are given of ten principles that are…

The purpose of this study was to collect facts and figures on the cost of vegetable foods to city families, the possibilities of raising much of this food in the city, and the educational value of garden training to the people, especially the children, of the city of Richmond, Indiana. Although located in the center of a farming region, the prices…

Author describes her experience with first graders who had already been labeled as failures in kindergarten, and her employment of the experience approach to learning, which is a good way to build from where each child is and to provide success-oriented activities for everyone. (Author/DR)

Surveyed graduate housing assistants (N=147) to determine what factors affected their choice and perceived job satisfaction. Results showed most assistants were unmarried master's degree students who chose a housing assistantship for personal satisfaction and learning experiences. Most found the experience satisfying. (JAC)

A case study of the type of educational experience provided in a seminar for student teachers is discussed. Inspired by a humanistic philosophy, the seminar did, at times, play a liberalizing and creative role. Most discussions, however, focused on utilitarian problems encountered in the students' teaching. (PP)

These two reaction papers provide a synthesis of the issues raised by the papers presented in this issue of the "Elementary School Journal." Each reaction paper approaches student variables from a different vantage point, and each brings a novel and imaginative perspective to the study of students in the classrooms. (MP)

A mature understanding of the natural world requires experiential learning. Significant experience provides a constant source of values and understanding. Experiential learning is a holistic process, where conceptual, linguistic and perceptual elements are blended with direct impressions of the environment. Experiential knowing is not fixed but is…

Teacher educators need a philosophy consistent with an affirmation of multicultural education. Multicultural experiences must be integrated throughout the total teacher education program, involve both cognitive and affective learning, and have the acceptance and commitment of the entire teacher education faculty. (PP)

The self-esteem and perceived personal acceptance by the teacher of 18 nonhandicapped and l2 trainable retarded students were studied in a mainstream junior high setting. Students in the cooperative condition had the highest self-esteem and perceived the most personal acceptance. Handicapped students reported higher self-esteem than nonhandicapped…

Examines how old age invites consummatory assessments of the major stages, relationships, and events of the past. Suggests neglect of consummation in life-satisfaction indexes can lead to bias in testing theories of aging. Proposes that human fulfillment is related to achieving favorable consummations in old age. (Author/RC)