The articles collected in this book use the testimonial narrative of Rigoberta Menchu, a Mayan-Quiche of Guatemala and winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, to engage students in vital and relevant cross-cultural learning in a variety of disciplines, locations, and levels. The book tells teachers' stories of using Menchu's testimonial in their…

A technique called the "do now" illustrates how it is not the method, but the purpose, that creates effective teaching techniques. Beginning the first activity of a freshman composition class with moments of silent reflection, or "do now," includes brief instructions to students to respond to whatever word or phrase the…

What happens in a writing center is always directly linked to a particular curriculum. If the "old regime" featured a 2-course writing requirement, the writing center director generally teaches in the English department and the center works closely to support composition and technical writing and advanced composition sections. Student writers may…

A study investigated the effects of instructional materials for goal-setting on students' goal-analysis skill, goal-setting habits, and self-efficacy for self-regulated learning (SESRL). Subjects were 75 junior and senior college students in a required health science course, randomly assigned to use either one of two sets of self-instructional…

It is unlikely that Harvard University (Massachusetts) considered "outcomes assessment" for its first class of nine students in 1640, and most certainly the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States did not offer a public relations curriculum. A short history of education in the United States shows increasing numbers of…

Two brief papers provide reasons to support self-determination for students with disabilities, with one paper written from the perspective of educators and one written from the parents' perspective. Each paper discusses 11 benefits of self-determination, including: (1) personal control, (2) motivation, (3) prosocial behaviors, (4) self-awareness,…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a preschool program on achievement of first through fourth grade students in reading and math. The subjects of this study were 208 elementary students from the Estill County (Kentucky) School District. All the students were white, from low to middle socioeconomic classes. The experimental…

The social studies teacher should assist pupils in developing meaningful learnings. A teacher can achieve such a goal by building on interests that students already have in the social studies. It also is necessary to provide for individual differences among elementary school children. The learner must perceive a purpose and must be able to…

The Blueprint for the Future program began in 1989-90 in 20 pilot schools in the Scarborough school system in Ontario, Canada. School support teams were established and the role of special-education resource teachers (SERT) was expanded through inservice training. Focused group interviews with principals and SERTs were conducted to determine…

This report examines cases of students learning from their experiences in a fifth grade classroom as they studied a U.S. history curriculum organized around concepts that would not only help students understand history but also be powerful in their lives, concepts that planners hoped would make students more human. The teacher-researchers also…

This case study of a restructured high school in Baltimore, Maryland, demonstrates an approach to the education of gifted and talented students utilizing principles of the Coalition for Essential Schools, an education reform movement headed by Ted Sizer. The case study first examines Coalition principles, which call for a commitment to…

Results from two studies are offered in this examination of differing perceptions of influential factors on gifted children's development. The first study surveyed parents, teachers, and gifted children in two southwestern states regarding their perception of the factors that have contributed to "giftedness." A 6-point Likert scale was…

This digest summarizes the literature on principles of changing behaviors in students with behavior disorders. Principles include: (1) focus on behaviors that need to be changed; (2) identify new behaviors to be developed; (3) provide opportunities to practice new behaviors; (4) treat social skills deficits as errors in learning; (5) teach…

Over the last 20 years, the percentage of older students on college campuses has increased dramatically. Because developmental needs, issues, and stressors for adults differ from those of younger students, the college environment must be reconsidered to respond to adult students. Adult learners tend to be achievement oriented, highly motivated,…

This study examined the internal/external (I/E) frame of reference model of self-concept (Marsh, 1986) with higher education students in Hong Kong (n=274). Structural equation models relating English and math achievement (both requirements for university entrance) to English and math self-concepts replicated the I/E model in that paths leading…