The author of this article examines two powerful metaphors that have shaped the way people have thought about young children over the past 75 years or so, and argues that these two models are off base. These metaphors are "The Wild Child" and "The Little Scientist." The earlier of these two metaphors is that of the Wild Child, which hearkens back…

The Midwest Center for Postsecondary Outreach developed this guide to offer administrators, parents, students, and potential service providers an overview of the various speech-to-text service options available in postsecondary environments to students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Speech-to-text services are support options for students who…

This document presents tips and ideas to support apprentices and trainees during their training in Australian workplaces. The booklet begins by explaining the types of assistance provided by the following organizations across Australia: state training authorities; new apprenticeship centres, registered training organizations; and group training…

A study of resilient at-risk students was commissioned by the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium to identify factors that students believed contributed to their academic success. Sixty-two resilient and academically successful at-risk students from six school divisions took part in in-depth interviews. Factors identified by students were…

This action research project evaluated an intervention to improve primary, intermediate, and special education student responsibility in a middle class community located near a metropolitan area in northeastern Illinois. Participating were students in first grade, fourth grade, and communication development classes. Lack of student responsibility…

Rapid social change with profound implications for the raising of children contributes significantly to the problems schools face, but it is also true that schools can exacerbate children's problems. Suggestions are made to improve education and to make schools places where children are helped to cope with stress. Current practices that might be…

This guide for elementary and secondary teachers discusses 18 tips for creating meaningful homework assignments that students will complete. Following introductory sections that explore hurdles to homework, the guide details the following tips: (1) lay out expectations early in the school year; (2) create assignments with a purpose; (3) make sure…

Summarizes a case study examining how a nongraded, multiage schooling structure differs from a traditional grade structure, based on participants' perceptions. The ungraded school studied used responsive instruction, fostered student leadership and collaboration, created a family of learners, and encouraged student independence and responsibility.…

Describes an experiment with student-led evaluative conferences that found that students learned the importance of learning, their own responsibility toward learning, the importance of assignments, and the importance of understanding and expressing ideas and concepts. Describes the implementation of these student-led conferences, including making…

Analyzes the responses of 13 undergraduate education majors to a cheating incident in their moral development and education class. Interviewed by their teacher, the students discussed the incident in terms of teacher-student relationships, trust, individual morality versus imposed morality, and ethics. Relates these responses to theories on moral…

Describes a project which pairs Ottawa, Canada, high school students with local nursing home residents in an effort to enhance students' development and increase their awareness of the world. Concludes that the experience is rewarding as students perform a valuable service, learn responsibility, and make friends in the community. (GEA)

Explores definitions of adult literacy. The shift toward a more learner-centered education makes literacy meaningful to teachers and learners mutually and can be achieved through joint planning of instruction so that students share responsibility for determining what is needed. New definitions of literacy bring new insights. (SLD)

Teachers and students must become empowered to be active participants in educational improvement and school decision making. They need opportunities to develop professionally. Empowered schools and their principals are very different from schools with little empowerment. Their principals understand how to foster empowering environments. Empowered…

This position paper of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities urges comprehensive transition planning for students with learning disabilities, especially as applied to their progression from secondary to postsecondary education. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of the student, parent, secondary school personnel, and…

Inconsistent performance by gifted students has been a source of frustration for both parents and educators for decades. Several studies on gifted under achievement point to a connection between student learning styles and classroom performance.This study examined the learning styles of gifted middle school students, student perceptions of the…