In response to national reform movements, an introductory biology content science course specifically designed for elementary education majors has been developed and implemented for 3 years in a collaborative manner between the School of Biological Sciences and the Teachers College. Preliminary and ongoing quantitative survey analysis of teacher…

Focusing on the common bonds of all children everywhere while honoring their differences, this book shows teachers how to choose appropriate picture books, how to lead children into book extension activities featuring multicultural characters, and how to develop an entire multicultural curriculum with these books. Each chapter in the book…

A project was conducted to develop mechanisms for stimulating demand for continuing professional development (CPD) among young professionals in North West England. A mixed sample of 154 young professionals were surveyed; they engaged in a range of development activities, including 20 regional seminars that were attended by 65 of those who…

This report is intended to assist teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders in achieving excellence in California's public elementary education. The report is also designed to help teachers and administrators engage elementary school students in a thinking curriculum that immerses students in a rich learning environment that…

This handbook contains specific suggestions and activities designed to assist small, rural school districts in identifying local resources for determining their readiness and capacity for curriculum renewal. State education agencies are becoming more active in curriculum issues, with new standards guiding local resources, practices, and learning…

As part of a Funds for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE) grant, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Central Missouri State University is redesigning its 28-hour Secondary Professional Sequence (required for secondary education majors). The department identified and developed 45 teaching competencies reflecting 7…

This document reports how a writing/communication curriculum for incarcerated adults was developed in response to an informal survey taken at the Schuylkill County (Pennsylvania) Prison. Findings from students in the 1990-91 adult basic education course indicated that prisoners evidenced low-level writing skills, an apathetic attitude toward the…

This volume contains 17 articles on the emergence and potential of "Quality Improvement" (QI) efforts in higher education. Quality Improvement is defined as continuous improvement of processes in a cycle of plan (administration of instructional processes), do/check (assess), act (on the assessment and then continue to), plan-do-check-act. The…

This collection of 18 essays and interviews documents the unique approach to early childhood education taken by schools in the Reggio Emilia region of Northern Italy for the last 30 years. The book is divided into four major parts. Part I includes an introduction by Carolyn Edwards and others, and the essay, "What Can We Learn From Reggio…

The aim of this collection is to present "state of the art" papers in language curriculum studies by writers who have been actively involved in shaping theory in the field and who, between them, have applied that theory in almost every part of the world and in a variety of contexts. Papers include the following: "A Decision-Making Framework for…

This paper discusses both short- and long-term strategies for creating a multicultural educational environment in institutions of higher education. It is based on the current struggle to enhance diversity at St. John's University, a small, liberal arts college in Minnesota. Diversity involves creating a climate where cultural differences are…

This book describes a sharing classroom community where first-grade children and teachers think and learn together. The book describes how a sense of trust was fostered; how the daily schedule, classroom space, and materials were organized; how the children participated in shared literacy; how the children practiced and shared what they learned;…

A basic algebra unit was developed at Utah Valley State College to emphasize applications of mathematical concepts in the work world, using video and computer-generated graphics to integrate textual material. The course was implemented in three introductory algebra sections involving 80 students and taught algebraic concepts using such areas as…

This curriculum guide allows teachers to help middle school students become more effective at handling conflict nonviolently and use what they know about interpersonal conflict resolution to understand conflict in the larger world. The curriculum is based on a model called the Peaceable Classroom, a caring classroom community that emphasizes…

This collection of writings addresses the issue of developing a generation of aesthetically aware and involved individuals. Each of the 19 articles emphasizes art education as an indispensable force in the total school program. Together these writings form sources of inspiration and ideas for the elementary art teacher. Divided into four…