This handbook enables teachers to proceed from understanding to practical incorporation in the classroom of "Common Essential Learnings," an appropriate and sound pedagogy, based on techniques of questioning, reflection, and dialogue. The "Common Essential Learnings" comprise six categories: (1) communication, which focuses on improving students' understanding of language demands; (2) numeracy, which is concerned with developing students' knowledge, skills, and appreciations of mathematical ideas, techniques, and applications; (3) critical and creative thinking, which is intended to develop students' abilities to create and evaluate ideas, processes, experiences, and objects; (4) technological literacy, which is concerned with improving students' understandings of how technological systems are integral parts of social systems; (5) personal and social values and skills, which include the personal, moral, social, and cultural aspects of each school subject and of the school environment; and (6) independent learning, which focuses on creation of opportunities and experiences necessary for students to become capable, self-reliant, self-motivated, and life-long learners. (LL)