Contrasts four educational theories that outline different diagnoses and prescriptive strategies for addressing minority student failure. Argues that critical theory offers the best possibilities for empowering Navajo and other American Indian students. Describes a bilingual language arts program, based on critical literacy instruction, that links…

The principal of Samuel Gompers Fine Arts Option School in Chicago (Illinois) has transformed the culture and atmosphere through emphasizing strong leadership, cracking down on safety issues, developing programs of which the whole school could be proud, emphasizing excellence, and encouraging community involvement. (JB)

Research and theory on teaching the writing process is not being widely implemented in public school classrooms. Changes such as a greater emphasis on process in college composition classes and language arts methodology courses as well as careful selection of supervising teachers, inservice programs, and revamping of writing evaluation are needed.…

Presents an activity that integrates science, environmental education, art, and social studies. Students identify and research an endangered species and construct a totem pole depicting the species using a recyclable material. (MDH)

Maintains that primary school teachers should increase the emphasis on narrative and expository textual experiences. Children should be exposed to a variety of reading experiences through a classroom library, the practice of reading aloud, and children's magazines. (BB)

Describes the use of mapping and portfolio assessment by school library media specialists to document changes in student reading, writing, and information use patterns. Topics discussed include new curriculum designs in language arts and social studies; information literacy; comparing earlier and later work; and student reflection. (Contains 37…

Studies differences in the involvement in talk in classroom situations and the nature of that talk for boys and girls in mathematics/technology and language group work. Results with 15 classes of children aged 4 through 11 years give a picture of the effects of the group's gender balance. (SLD)

Presents a lesson plan that uses content analysis of an advertisement for an early sewing machine, the Vindex, to examine issues of marketing, new technology, and consumer economics. Includes a reproduction of an early advertisement, a list of additional readings, and several sets of questions concerning target audience, information, and image…

Investigates the effects of familiarity with a teacher and rehearsal context on students' interpretations of teacher verbal praise. Finds that students could distinguish between deserved and instrumental praise, could make the distinction better with familiar teachers, and were not unanimous in their interpretations of the same signal. (DSK)

Describes a model program to prepare teachers from midwestern liberal arts colleges for urban teaching careers. Student teachers come to Chicago and live together, student teaching in local urban schools and completing regular professional development and cultural diversity activities. Pre- and post-program interviews and essays indicate that the…

Describes a teacher educator's efforts to connect children's literature, sponsored by a partnership between Northern Illinois University and Chicago Public Schools. In one project, student teachers used award-winning picture books to inspire African-American eighth graders to create pastels on black paper. In another, regional folk tales inspired…

Describes a study that investigated the effect of curiosity on learning art education facts and concepts by first and second graders in computer-based interactive learner-controlled environments with and without advisement. Results are compared with a previous study on learner control and advisement, and implications for instructional design are…

Argues that the centralized, bureaucratic model of education management has created more problems than solutions. Contrasts the current situation with an earlier model defined by local autonomy and personal commitment. Explores a broad set of issues and approaches designed to make arts education more autonomous and less divisive. (MJP)

Reveals an interesting and overlooked chapter in Hispanic cultural history. The Claremont, California, Padua Hills Theater presented Spanish-language, Mexican-theme musicals to a mostly white audience from 1931 to 1974. Although it presented romantic, and occasionally stereotypical views of Mexican American life, the theater deserves recognition.…

Provides six fully developed library media activities that are designed for use with specific curriculum units in reading, language arts, safety, science, and social studies. Library media skills, curriculum objectives, grade levels, resources, instructional roles, procedures, evaluation, and follow-up are describes for each activity. (LRW)