Seeks to identify and reach consensus on criteria that can be used to assess and evaluate faculty sabbaticals. Using a sample of senior academic affairs administrators, 16 assessment criteria were identified, with recommendations made for further research and current practice. The measures included: increased scholarly output, new research…

Describes a California free school based on humanistic philosophy where children learn in synchronicity with each other, develop leadership qualities, are treated as equals, and are given space to experience all their emotions. Recounts the preschool/elementary school's 50-year history. Describes daily activities, adult-child interactions,…

An ethnographic study of a freshman composition class at the Universidad Autonoma de Santa Domingo (Dominican Republic) examined classroom practices and behaviors of the professor and students as students learned to improve their native-language reading and writing skills. Differences from U.S. classrooms are discussed in terms of the needs of…

This article proposes a reconceptualization of multicultural teacher education and summarizes basic principles of cultural-historical theory. It also considers how cultural-historical theory can inform research design and offers examples from a preservice teacher education course of how constructs from cultural-historical theory can be used to…

Primary public education in France originated in the 19th- century "ecole republicaine." Since the 1960s, elementary schools have been integrated into a (universally attended) preschool to secondary school system. The elementary level is characterized by modernistic pedagogy, a child-development focus, and a psycho-affective…

Responding to an article (EC 618 445) describing an individualized program for young children with severe disabilities, including autism, and their families, this article notes features of the program such as its individualized nature, its emphasis on building capacity in families and early intervention providers, and its integrative practices…

To illustrate past practices in the assessment of children with communication disorders, this article presents a case study from 1967 and then reviews advances since then in assessing children for language and speech disorders. The benefits of dynamic assessment are discussed and steps in dynamic assessment approaches are explained. (CR)

Reviews Marshak's book describing the work of educators Maria Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, Aurobindo Ghose, and Inayat Khan. Maintains that the book gives clear, concise information on each educator and presents a common vision for children and their education; also maintains that it gives theoretical and practical information and discusses…

Analysis of the stories told by 19 teachers from New Brunswick (Canada) produced themes that illustrate the significance of simultaneous strategies to influence students' behaviors, the relevance of the interaction of individuals with situations, and the congruence of teachers' commonplace theories with formal theories. (SLD)

Presents guidelines for effective distance education planning that confront the issues of planning/organization, technology, and faculty development/academic policies. Concludes that understanding the unique characteristics and constraints of any particular program or target audience is the first step in selecting appropriate distance education…

Describes five gifted elementary students and their programs: an Alaskan classroom delivery model centered on cluster grouping and differentiated thematic curricula; an Oregon pullout program focused on leadership and social skills; an Idaho hybrid program utilizing curriculum compacting; a Montana classroom model personalized at the building…

Explores the relationship between measurement theory and practice, considering five broad categories of: (1) models, assumptions, and terminology; (2) reliability; (3) validity; (4) scaling; and (5) setting performance standards. It must be recognized that measurement is not an end in itself. (SLD)

For 25 years, Portland Night High School (Oregon) has offered students with a job or family a way to complete high school. School features include individualized progression, nongraded credit-accrual based on task completion and demonstrated competency, relevant projects and activities, small class size, a model school-to-work program, and student…

Summarizes the results of a study concerning the efficacy of block scheduling for music programs. High school band directors in Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky responded to questionnaires. Results were mixed, although most directors agreed that scheduling works best when music teachers and administrators work together to individualize a schedule.…

Offers answers to what best practice is, how it originated, how it applies to education, what Teaching English-as-a-Second-Language (TESOL) professionals can learn from best practice in other fields, why the best practice approach is worth examining, and how TESOL professionals can strengthen best practice models to increase their visibility. (SM)