Describes how educators at one Navajo community school are transforming assumptions about schooling for indigenous groups from a deficit model to one that views bilingualism, biculturalism, and multiculturalism as assets to be tapped. Bases the discussion on a long-term ethnographic study of the changes brought about through the implementation of…

Examines an initiative to introduce a multicultural- and whole-language-based early childhood curriculum in a private school in New Delhi, India. Considers the planning of the change from traditional education; the creation of an activity room for free play; parental responses to the new program; and factors that facilitated the change process.…

Suggests that whole language is alive and well in Israel, and that like many countries trying to educate multiethnic, multilingual populations, there is a strong interest in whole language as a democratic, innovative pedagogy built on scientific foundations. Notes the Ministry of Education encourages whole language approaches, but the teachers'…

Explains how whole language classes differ from traditional developmental classes and illustrates how both African American and Caucasian students benefit from a whole language approach. Makes a case for the importance of using African American literature as well as other literature. Describes reading and writing assignments. (TB)

Discusses designing, initiating, and collecting observational data from a program designed for a multicultural inner-city kindergarten classroom to teach emergent literacy, to use picture books representing children's cultures, and to share responsibility for children's own learning by freely initiating interactions with print materials. Notes…

Describes Oyster Elementary School's award-winning two-way bilingual (Spanish-English) program. The school's success has been maintained by strong parent and community support, high academic standards, and ongoing professional development efforts. However, cultural, generational, and socioeconomic differences among staff, students, and parents…

Asserts that the whole-language approach is a philosophy of learning in which children construct knowledge by actively engaging in classroom projects that have real meaning for them. Describes thematic studies using a whole-language approach in which children (with teacher assistance) decide what themes will be studied. (CFR)

Asserts that social studies is an integrated field of study that calls for organizing the curriculum in a holistic manner. Maintains that the whole-language movement, which involves thinking about reading and writing as integrated, reciprocal processes, forms a natural partnership with social studies instruction. (CFR)

The Middle Level Demonstration School of the New York City Public Schools, in operation since September 1991, is committed to creating a middle school in which both students and teachers are active participants in a supportive learning community characterized by high standards, mutual respect, and cooperation. Parents are seen as important members…