CraftPlus[R] is an integrated learning package that consists of a K-8 spiraling, core writing curriculum based on explicit Target-Skills instruction; professional books; grade-level Curriculum Guides; sixteen workshop and classroom demonstration DVDs; and a CD with student samples and other classroom support materials. The grade-level Curriculum…

Teachers, like other professionals, need to stay informed about new knowledge and technologies. Yet many express dissatisfaction with the professional development opportunities made available to them in schools and insist that the most effective development programs they have experienced have been self-initiated. "Enhancing Professional…

In 2001, in partnership with the Waterloo, Iowa school system, the R.J. McElroy Trust, Janice Freeburg-Cannon, Tri-County Head Start, Allen Health System, the University of Northern Iowa and the Regents' Center for Early Developmental Education created a special model for early childhood education that would eventually become The Freeburg School.…

In response to the underachievement of its Latino children, one district implemented Parent Partnership for Achieving Literacy (PAL), a program to build cultural bridges between home and school. Professional development (PD) that helped mainstream teachers develop cultural competence to work effectively with Latino children and their families was…

In most elementary classrooms, students with autistic characteristics are too often dismissed from the literate community. The autistic child is frequently asked to practice memorizing sight words while classmates are introduced to literature. Although autistic children are increasingly being taught in general education classrooms, they are often…

This study examined the effectiveness of racial and cultural awareness programs on the attitudes of white college students toward diversity on campus. It is based on a subset of students included in the National Study of Student Learning, specifically 1,061 white first-year undergraduates at 17 institutions, who answered questionnaires immediately…

This paper explores the potential of telecommunications in education. It is proposed that classrooms begin telecomputing by communicating with "electronic pen pals," where students write for a distant audience and learn about different cultures through interaction on the computer. The following three sequential stages of the process are…

Intended for parent educators, this facilitator's guide outlines a parent workshop on helping children with homework. The guide first presents a framework for both a 1-hour and 2-hour workshop, based on a companion video. The remainder of the guide corresponds to the video, presenting suggestions for discussion prior to and after viewing the…

Andersen Consulting is a global training firm with more than 20,000 consultants serving clients from 151 officers in 46 countries. In 1995, Andersen Consulting introduced a career development model (CDM) as a new organizing structure for its consultants in North and South America. The CDM, which translates the findings of research on integrative…

Research on the effectiveness of specific strategies for faculty and instructional development at the college level is reviewedd, focusing on five delivery strategies: (1) workshops; (2) instructional consultation; (3) grants for instructional improvement; (4) colleague collaboration; and (5) print resources. In each case, the strategy is…

This theme issue includes four articles on racism in colleges and public schools and on strategies to build ethnic and racial tolerance. "Affirmative Action: Not a Thing of the Past" (Linda Cantu) reviews the history of affirmative action and its positive effects on Hispanic and Black enrollment in higher education, discusses current efforts to…

This study describes global education as one of the current trends in teacher education in the United States. In this study, preservice and inservice teachers who attended six outstanding teacher education programs in global education were asked to reflect upon: (1) what they valued in their program's content and experiences; (2) their processes…

This report evolved from the results of a Croatian project of introducing foreign languages (English, French, German, and Italian) into the first grade, begun in 1991 and initially involving about 400 students. Participants from 11 European countries and Croatia were invited to attend a 4-day course, sponsored by the Council of Europe and the…

One of the most important responsibilities of academic leaders is to encourage and provide continuing professional development opportunities for themselves, faculty, and staff. Retreats are very effective vehicles for professional growth, providing an opportunity to discuss their experiences and different issues. For over 25 years, the most…

Celebrating diversity is critical for maximizing the benefits of the diverse makeup of faculty, students, and communities served by colleges. Understanding the importance of diversity is important for academic leaders because their attitudes towards diversity influence the perceptions of others in the institution and can affect hiring practices…