In this article, the authors talk about the state of boyhood in education and explain the idea that not all elements of the brain--especially not gender--are plastic. They discuss the mismatch between boys and conventional education and how gender "really" happens in the brain and describe the three biological stages in which human nature…

This digest considers approaches to langugae arts teaching that are based on mythic or archetypal ways of experiencing and knowing. The Digest argues that such approaches address students' inner lives more directly than do the usual instructional methods such as whole language or student-centered instruction, and thus can help to promote…

This field study report recounts an action research project undertaken by an elementary school teacher to reflect on her practice as a teacher. After a review of the literature on using reflection for personal and professional growth, the ethnographic methodology employed in the study is discussed. The teacher action-researcher took 117 pages of…

This brief guide presents principles and suggestions to help individuals who are deaf-blind enjoy and benefit from participation in recreational activities. Principles consider the need to: (1) start with the individual and determine what he/she is interested in, focusing on the selection of safe, age-appropriate activities; (2) research the…

The conceptual connections between aspects of critical thinking described by the Reflective Judgment Model, a theory of adult intellectual development, and a larger set of psychological principles derived from constructivist theories of learning are highlighted. In spite of parallels between these conceptual schemes, as well as the practical…

The overall goal of this module is to provide elementary and secondary students with the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate their behavior, take responsibility for their health, and understand the consequences of their actions in order to minimize and/or avoid health risks. The module is divided into four major groupings: primary, upper…

Summarized are implications of recent research on children's development and learning for the curriculum in early childhood programs. Contents focus on the development of language, dispositions, social competence, and intellect. Taken together, the research suggests that children attending preschool and kindergarten classes should frequently be…

Documentation of classroom processes and interaction plays two roles; it is helpful in classroom/program evaluation, and in the continuing personal and professional growth of the teacher. Documentation in the evaluation context is not primarily concerned with narrow objectives or with standardized tests, but rather seeks to determine meaning over…

Writing labs should have substantive rather than merely cosmetic effects on student writing. Through a 30-minute writing conference, students can improve the assignment at hand and obtain insight into their own development as writers. The writing instructor has three tasks during a conference: (1) to establish focus, (2) to make a diagnosis, and…

The value of experiential learning to augment formal instruction is discussed. The author posits that the social shift from rural to urban life has created a youth population richer in information than in experience. Experiential learning is a means to compensate for this imbalance. Examples are given of successful programs such as Foxfire, which…

The model described here was developed for use as a program planning guide by teachers, many of them tradesmen and lay people, at the secondary school level, who offer courses to adults pursuing interests that will add meaning to their lives. Ten features of the model are listed: (1) The purpose is to assist learners in the pursuit of interests…

A composition teacher at a New York City community college where cooperative education is stressed found that focusing the writing of his multiethnic students on the theme of freedom helped them look at their lives differently, revealing the contradictions involved in their beliefs, ideals, and prejudices. The course began with a discussion of…

The papers contained in this volume were given during a conference on "Humanistic Education in Desegregated Schools." The papers address a variety of issues in humanistic education, some practical and some theoretical. All attempt to assist elementary and secondary school personnel to accept diversity, whether based on race, sex, or…

Based upon the philosophy and techniques of a life skills course for adults, this program guide specifies the life skills problems faced by northern adolescents, the lessons needed to confront these problems, and some of the benefits that would accrue to the students who may take the course. In addition, an attempt is made to anticipate negative…

Sensitivity training in the classroom can help children cope with and adapt to their environment--family, peer group, friends, school, and teachers--and get them to talk honestly and openly about emotional, social, and intellectual feelings and concepts. Some techniques of encouraging students to explore, to become involved with and aware of…