This study investigated the characteristics of principals, students, teachers and middle-grades schools located in port of entry communities along the Texas-Mexico border, examining principals' opinions about the degree to which new teachers' education and preparation experiences were appropriate. The study also examined principals' opinions about…

This study investigated the lived experiences of a group of students and their teacher as they negotiated learning and teaching during a sixth-grade exploratory music technology course taught in a music technology lab. Taking a qualitative and naturalistic approach, I sought to understand the challenges, issues, and successes experienced by the…

This booklet summarizes some of the best practices in helping infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers maximize their language skills prior to school entry. Children who are well prepared by their parents, caretakers or pre-school teachers can readily manage the transition to the academic demands of the early school years and are more likely to learn…

Following pilot implementation in 2003-2004, a cohort of 16 AISD schools received district support for the implementation of Positive Behavior Support (PBS) on their campuses in 2004-2005. The results of the evaluation suggest that by spring 2005, most schools had created representative PBS teams, established clearly defined behavioral…

Reviews research data to identify design criteria for a school-family policy system that includes evaluation of teachers' relations with families. Finds that evaluation of teachers' relationships with families is valuable to fostering school-family partnerships. Provides parent involvement policies to consider as fair criteria for evaluating…

This article presents suggestions for culturally sensitive modifications to help students from all backgrounds learn better. The modifications include building trust, building a repertoire of instructional strategies, using effective questioning techniques, providing effective feedback, analyzing instructional materials, and establishing positive…

Ten factors are discussed for promoting the success of students who are deaf: family involvement; self-determination; extracurricular activities; friendships and social skills; self-advocacy skills; collaboration and communication with general education teachers; pre-teaching and post-teaching materials in general education classrooms;…

Summarizes the results of a questionnaire given to Finnish high school students and their teachers. They were asked values-oriented questions and then asked how they thought an ideal pupil would answer the same. Reveals distinct differences between teachers' and students' concept of an ideal pupil. (MJP)

Contends that student questions about art interpretation and evaluation require that teachers should broaden their interpretations of works of art. Discusses modernism, postmodernism, and discipline-based art education. Concludes that a postmodern approach to art education could empower students with knowledge to create new worlds. (CFR)

Explores the barriers that physical appearance and cultural differences pose for children of Asian descent. Explores ways to facilitate second-language learning and provides information on classroom behaviors characteristic of Asian cultures and common surnames from various Asian countries. (HTH)

Reports on a study of the relationships between social categories, defined by ethnicity, gender, and social status, and school-related outcomes among 470 16-year-old Australian adolescents and their parents. Finds that differences in students' learning environments and school outcomes were related strongly to ethnicity. (CFR)

A proposed strategy for colleges and universities to increase the academic persistence of minority group students begins with faculty renewal efforts that encourage faculty to question their cultural beliefs, examine how diversity affects teaching and learning, foster more collaborative classroom interactions, maintain high academic expectations,…

Examines conditions that foster and hinder participatory research using examples from a student research project aimed at drop-out reduction undertaken with students in a "last chance" high school. Concludes that students need to be taken seriously as researchers and potential agents of change. (ACM)

Classroom techniques (collaboration, mentoring, emphasis on problem-solving) used in supplemental instruction (SI) for chemistry at Saint Xavier University (Illinois) are detailed, the role of SI leader and supervisor are examined, and a small-scale (n=219 students) study of student perceptions of the program is reported. (MSE)

Asserts that, although research on Lawrence Kohlberg's "just communities" has received much attention, descriptions of the application of this approach are limited. Describes how Kohlberg's theories are applied to sixth and seventh grade classrooms. Includes recommendations on the classroom environment, student journals, and report…