This book describes a study of 10 inner city schools in the United Kingdom which showed how the empathy and imagination of teachers and principals, as well as culturally relevant curricula and stimulating teaching, helped enable bilingual students to achieve. The first part of the book describes the main issues: what counts as achievement for…

This paper describes the results of two specific primary surveys, one of IT professionals in the city of Bangalore and their role in making the city a corridor for international mobility of Indian professionals, and the second survey of health professionals (doctors and nurses) in the city of New Delhi. In these surveys, highly skilled Indians…

In 1999, the Intercultural Development Research Association was established to identify 10 promising and/or exemplary bilingual education programs in schools nationwide as determined by participating limited-English-proficient (LEP) students' academic achievement. Researchers requested data on achievement, retention rate, dropout rate, enrollment…

This study examined the altruistic motivations of nine white, female preservice teachers who spent one semester tutoring English Language Learners (ELLs) of Mexican origin. Data were collected via classroom observations and discussions about their teaching aspirations, the children they tutored, and their own racial identity. Results indicated…

This study examined the teaching practices of Maria, a special educator who worked with students who had multiple disabilities, were nonverbal, and used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). It highlighted the complex, interdependent, and dynamic nature of teacher knowledge, beliefs, and practices and evaluated what Maria knew and…

This collection of articles focuses on connections between education policy and teaching and learning practice. The articles place special emphasis on teaching in urban settings and on improving teacher-student interactions in the classroom. The articles--organized around three major themes: (1) race, culture, power, and language; (2) teacher…

This paper examines what researchers have learned from teachers about high quality instruction for poor second language learners. It begins by describing the Vygotskian notion of responsivity. Next, it describes specific practices and guidelines, focusing on: differentiating instruction; understanding teachers' responsibility for knowing about…

The preparation of preservice teachers plays a major role in closing the achievement gap in the education of urban children. Urban teachers often do not understand how their low expectations and deficit assumptions influence their instructional practices and contribute to a widening achievement gap between urban and non-urban students. Many…

In this keynote address, the speaker draws upon his own experiences in education. He begins with his observation that the outcomes of the conference invite change which he applauds. However, he notes that change is always accompanied by fear, and fear has a habit of closing the lid on change. He speculates upon the possibilities were he to have…

Presents evidence contradicting previous findings regarding the relative academic superiority of recent Mexican immigrants over native-born Mexican Americans. Discusses the problem of the relative achievement levels of the two groups in the context of three possible explanations: socio-economic differences; teacher expectancy effect; and native…

Analyzed statewide elementary and secondary school data from the Kansas Writing Assessment to examine the effects on student writing performance of student choice of topic and teacher choice (related to extent of engagement and amount of time allowed for writing processes). Results find the effect of choice is negligible, though it promotes good…

The principal of Ganado Primary School on the Navajo Reservation relates his educational experience as the child of Polish immigrants to stress the important role of teachers in the intellectual and spiritual development of children. Through his poetry, the principal illustrates the relationship between teachers and students and how teachers can…

A Seattle (Washington) high school has been closing the achievement gap between White and minority group students by promoting a personalized learning environment. This has been accomplished by limiting enrollment, instituting a house plan for freshmen and sophomores, integrating the curriculum, mentoring, providing time for teacher collaboration,…

Contends that understanding history is more than remembering isolated facts: it involves interpreting, hypothesizing, and evaluating. Provides recommendations for preparing elementary students for the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS). (CFR)

Explores the views and perspectives of seven African-American urban elementary and secondary school teachers on school restructuring efforts underway in their schools. Teachers exhibit patterns of involvement that characterize them as cynical dissenters, coincidental cooperators, or committed advocates. Experienced teachers are the most skeptical…