Native Americans have oral traditions that are distinct from the European literacy consciousness, having different modes of discourse, different kinds of metaphorical thinking, and different conceptions of teaching as storytelling. Storytelling is important in children's education, but to be effective and respectful of Native culture, school…

Discusses the advantages of using a holistic language approach, its relationship to middle school theory, and guidelines for its implementation. Suggests that holistic language literacy approaches hold great promise for the middle grades. By integrating language skills and using real literature and authentic activities focused on students'…

A culturally relevant group therapy model for gifted American Indian students and their parents uses non-didactic facilitation to focus on cultural identity, play, self-disclosure, parental involvement, silence, cognitive processing, emotional expression, and social responsibility. Evaluation results indicate the program builds self-esteem, pride…

The National Science Foundation funds a two-year course in environmental resources management at Northwest Indian College on the Lummi Reservation (Washington). The course emphasizes co-articulation of tribal and Western knowledge, a non-abandonment policy toward students, an interdisciplinary approach, and developmental education that begins at…

Discussion of teacher education begins by focusing on beliefs about learning that are built on recent understandings about language. Changes that teacher educators have explored in their classrooms and programs are then considered. (BB)

Study investigated how to characterize students' transformational geometry problem-solving strategies, how strategies characterized particular subjects, and how strategy usage related to performance. Videotapes indicated problem-solving responses could be classified consistently, some students preferred holistic processing, some items readily…

Demonstrates how much young children learn when they are engaged with their subject. The project described (Speaking about the Past) involves parents, affirms the home languages of bilingual children, develops their language skills in these and in English, and meets National Curriculum requirements in many subjects. (GLR)

Describes the System for Teaching and Learning Assessment and Review (STAR), a comprehensive, classroom-based observation system for assessing teaching and learning, as well as interactive, psychosocial, and physical elements of the learning environment. The paper presents results of initial validity and reliability studies supporting the system.…

Politicians and educators recommend significant improvements in scientific and mathematical competency so Americans can be more competitive in tomorrow's high-tech economy. The article outlines shortcomings of current change proposals and describes an alternative that integrates various kinds of knowing, including science and technology, into an…

This supplement offers 10 articles focusing on middle school education. Topics include remembering adolescence, resources and teaching tips, active middle school students, adolescent development, challenges in middle school education, integrated studies, planning middle school special events, a writing-science-consumerism miniunit on popcorn,…

Outlines a philosophy for music literacy for all students that emphasizes wholeness. Suggests that music educators concentrate on nonverbal knowing, integrating popular and classical culture, balancing learned literature and improvisation, and making singing a central part of the music curriculum. Maintains that artistic excellence should be a…

Describes Project SCOPE (School-College Operation in Physical Education), a college-school partnership that takes a holistic approach to improving teacher education, faculty development, and K-12 curriculum in physical education. It was implemented with no money and limited support. The article discusses the conceptual framework and explains the…

Addresses issues in preparing teachers to be moral decision makers, examining assumptions in holistic teacher education. The article discusses how 195 teacher education programs address ethical and moral issues. It describes how a team of educators created and implemented a program addressing elements of holistic education, noting practical…

Educators have forsaken public education's goals and their responsibility to parents and the community by substituting standardized test scores, college entrance requirements, varsity sports, and academic competition for helping young people prepare for life. Schools must involve the community in helping all students learn major life roles,…

A perspective on teaching and learning in higher education that regards the learner's experience as primary is outlined. Some propositions about learning from experience are made, a model of learning from experience is discussed, and implications for instructional design are examined. Major areas for curriculum development are identified.…