The advantage of a multi-cultural program is that it can avoid the risk of ethnocentrism and provide for the self-worth of each individual in the student population. However, before proceeding to develop such a program, it must be determined if such a program will meet the needs and desires of the students and the community. (Author/NQ)

This article describes the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) and examines the relationship between gifted programs and total school improvement using the SEM. Goals of SEM include a school SEM specialist, a strong research base, a broadened conception of human potential, and educational experiences grounded in a high-end theory of learning.…

This articles describes a Shakespeare Club for elementary school students of all ages and abilities that has created a "Shakespeare Corner" in a school media center and performed a Shakespeare play for the school and community. The benefits of the club for typical students and for gifted students are discussed. (CR)

Three guiding principles provide the planner of aquatic exercise programs with a model that helps to ensure an effective program: principles of resource availability and allocation; the principle of fit, which involves matching instructor leadership style with program objectives; and the principle of attitude and perception modification. (IAH)

Introduces an effort by the Alliance for Environmental Education to establish a network of environmental education centers. Describes the components of a model of the network. Explains the evolution of the network strategy. (CW)

This article describes the on-going evaluation of a pilot program characterized by: (1) cooperation between program managers and evaluators; (2) first-hand knowledge about the implementation of the pilot; and (3) a focus on summative and formative evaluations. Evaluators participated actively in the design of the pilot. (Author/SLD)

This article proposes rules of thumb about the teacher education design process. The rules are grounded in the attempts at reforming teacher education at Washington University in the early 1970s, at a time during which a year-long, field-based alternative to the traditional elementary program was operated. (IAH)

The history and outcomes of the Richardson Study, to assess the state of gifted education and make recommendations for its improvement, and the Pyramid Project, to assist four school districts in implementing the study's recommendations, are chronicled. (MSE)

Describes the development of an undergraduate program in environmental chemistry at California State University-Fullerton. The program's development illustrates how the needs of the local environmental community can shape such programs and ensure their support in a time of shrinking academic budgets. (LZ)

Describes a case study that takes readers through a human-centered design process used in developing an "Active Learning" tool, CurioCity, a game for students in grades 7-10. Attempts to better understand multiculturalism and to bridge formal in-school learning with informal field trip learning. (SC)

This highly practical guide is grounded in the authors' experience setting up and running a successful professional development program to improve K-3 reading instruction. The book systematically describes how professional development works: how sessions are organized, what they contain, routines and procedures, and the roles of each participant.…

This qualitative study of a community college--university partnership employs network embeddedness theory to examine the processes involved in creating and sustaining partnerships to enhance transfer and baccalaureate attainment. In particular, this article describes the challenges inherent in partnership management and governance, the importance…

Recognizing the need for opportunities for children to interact meaningfully with older adults, this fastback discusses the organization and implementation of intergenerational programs in elementary and middle schools. It begins with a description of effective programs, focusing on the impact of two programs on students and older adults. The…

Physical education is an essential part of basic general education. Aside from the influence of heredity and nutrition, physical education is the only way in the school's instructional program to insure the development of organic vigor and vitality. It is the only organized means for the development of nerve/muscle skills that are so essential to…