Describes six high-achieving eighth-grade students asked to write a report about a significant person they would like as a mentor in high school. Finds the students chose their topics rapidly, and all but one created a task impression of the assigned report with little difficulty, using both content- and procedural-related goals to accomplish…

Describes how the innovative children's librarian, Katherine Watson, of the Denver (CO) Public Library surveyed famous American men and women in 1929-1930 about their favorite children's books to inspire young readers. Discusses Watson's idea that became children's book week, a book talk with local children's authors, a traveling collection of…

Discusses how the Humanities Out There (HOT) program has served as a resource library of curriculum models, of academic research, and of role models for students at Santa Ana High School. Notes how she, the teacher, had an important role in assisting the graduate and undergraduate students in developing their own teaching methodologies. (SC)

By fashioning a blended approach, two superintendents in radically different school districts systematically distinguished what worked and what was worth promoting from what was failing and had to be revised or eliminated. They both established credibility by encouraging teachers and principals to examine their practice, consider new ways of…

Examines the following aspects of the children's television program "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood": orderly safe environment, respect for self and others, imagination, "field trips" that reduce children's fears, special guests and cultural activities, dealing with personal and social problems, controlling one's feelings, taking…

Adolescents of diverse ethnic background (n=201) reported whether they considered any adult other than their parents to be a very important person (VIP) in their lives and described attributes of the VIP and their relationship. Girls were more likely to have a VIP. Differences in VIP attributes were associated with adolescents' psychosocial…

Australian older adults were trained to act as advocates and role models to inform peers on effective use of medicines. Trainees reported difficulties experienced by older learners when training is too concentrated. Many noted increased self-esteem and personal growth as a result of their involvement. (SK)

Responses from 108 African American junior high school students indicated that younger ones were more likely to be influenced by television role models. Amount of television viewing and gender did not influence career aspirations. Higher levels of mothers' education were a significant predictor of television influence on career aspiration;…

Presents results from a seven-year research project in which a baseline class of high school students was compared with a class in which role-model intervention was used to encourage female students to complete upper-level science courses. In the target class, there were no significant gender differences in science credits earned. Attitude survey…

A former substitute teacher explains how she won first-graders' attention and significantly improved deportment by pretending to be a Martian with different communication modes and hearing capabilities than terrestrials. Children painlessly learn tips on listening, communicating, and engaging in friendly behaviors. (MLH)

The International Telementor Center, founded by Hewlett Packard and housed at Colorado State University, facilitates e-mail mentoring between professional adults and students, under teacher supervision, in eight countries. Having an interested adult paying attention to them inspires students to improve communication skills, get more involved in…

Recounts the life and accomplishments of educator and writer Lucy Sprague Mitchell, suggesting that her life can bring inspiration and renewed vigor to today's early childhood educators. Considers the social conditions of Mitchell's era, her formative years, formal education and career decisions, participation in the Progressive Movement and…

Teen risk-taking is normal, healthy developmental behavior. Teens act out their fantasies--good and bad--at camp because it is a safe place away from parents. Signs of unhealthy risk-taking, camp staff responses, and how the September 11 tragedy might affect risk-taking are discussed. Sidebars describe tips for understanding adolescent behavior…

With the constant reminders of wars and other human degradation going on in the world, education for "caring" is more critically important than ever to our future (Noddings, 2002). Televised accounts of the war in Iraq leave most caring people devastated. Civilian and military deaths and casualties challenge people's faith in a peaceful and…

Currently in the UK there is much pressure to increase the recruitment and retention of ethnic minority teachers, not only to respond to the continuing shortage, but to develop a teaching force that reflects the diversity in the UK population and provides role models for ethnic minority students. There is, however, little research on how ethnic…