Making School by Hand: Developing a Meaning-Centered Curriculum from Everyday Life.

National Council of Teachers of English, 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096 (Stock No. 30372: $14.95 members, $19.95 nonmembers).

N

155

Parents; Practitioners

Active Learning; Case Studies; Childhood Interests; Childhood Needs; Class Activities; Educational Environment; Elementary Education; Instructional Innovation; Interdisciplinary Approach; Student Centered Curriculum; Student Motivation; Teacher Role

978-0-8141-3037-7

This book is the story of the founder of the Awakening Seed School, who reveals how her childhood interests and experiences have influenced what she has created in her own school and classroom. Using the metaphor of a quilt, the book shows how teaching can be approached as a "handmade" process and how the materials of everyday life can be used to develop a curriculum to meet the needs and interests of students. The book presents creative classroom activities--such as building models of the human body, designing and playing board games with environmental themes, and bringing books to life through dance performances--that lead to surprises and discoveries. Illustrated with examples of students' work, the book depicts one classroom in one school where the curriculum is specifically designed for and by its daily participants. The book invites other educators to join in the process of creating their own handmade learning environments. Contains 31 references and a list of recommended readings. (NKA)

1997

ED403602