ED414071 PS026075
Title:
Among Friends: Classrooms Where Caring and Learning Prevail.
Author(s):: Dalton, Joan; Watson, Marilyn
Author Affiliation: Developmental Studies Center, Oakland,
CA.(BBB32151)
Pages: 202
Publication Date: 1997
ISBN: 1-57621-142-8
Available from: Document Not Available from EDRS.
Availability: Developmental Studies Center, 2000 Embarcadero,
Suite 305, Oakland, CA 94606-5300; phone: 800-666-7270 ($16.95,
plus $4.50 shipping. 20% discount on 5 or more copies).
Language: English
Document Type: Book (010)
Geographic Source: U.S.; California
Journal Announcement: RIEAPR1998
Target Audience: Practitioners; Teachers
When children
feel that they are among friends in their schools and classrooms,
they make the school community their own. Using classroom vignettes
and collegial conversations, this book illustrates the creation
of caring learning communities in six elementary school classrooms.
Part 1 of the book, "Four Keys to Classroom Community,"
focuses on strategies to foster caring relationships, including:
(1) beginning the year with care, and helping children to know each
other; (2) teaching humane values through establishing class norms
with children, collaborative learning, spontaneous learning about
values, and use of literature; (3) honoring intrinsic motivation
through connecting learning to children's lives, usefulness, and
community values; and (4) learning for understanding. Section 2,
"Practical Tips from Teachers," presents suggestions for
initiating changes in the classroom, including using familiar instructional
formats even though the content changes; and forming groups, especially
considering activity goals in group formation and group size and
duration. This section also discusses challenges in incorporating
collaborative activities in the classroom, including problem solving
with children, when and how teachers should intervene, and adjustment
of lessons for children. In addition, the section addresses coherence
between the academic and affective goals for children, including
teachers' ways of organizing instruction, relating to students,
or conceptualizing the teacher role. The book's final section, on
resources, includes an overview of motivation and learning theory,
suggestions for community-building activities, a collaborative activity
checklist, and excerpts from "Blueprints for a Collaborative
Classroom" on interviewing and poetry formats for partner and
group work. Contains 52 references. (Author/KB)
Descriptors: Childrens Literature; Cooperation; Culturally
Relevant Education; *Educational Environment; Educational Philosophy;
Elementary Education; *Grouping (Instructional Purposes); Problem
Solving; Relevance (Education); Self Motivation; Student Adjustment;
Teacher Role; *Teacher Student Relationship; Teaching Methods; *Values
Education
Identifiers: *Caring; *Learning Communities
