Listen online at http://shop.ascd.org/mp3/el_september2008.mp3

We cannot always banish boredom, but why not reach for joy?

Effective classroom management begins with reading the underlying messages students send us.

How to shape family/school activities that further learning.

Teacher talk: It can both lift up, and tear down, students.

In war-torn Colombia, violence prevention begins with the 2nd graders.

A schoolwide system relies less on suspensions and expulsions and more on offering positive support for good behavior.

Through focus groups and leadership training, students and teachers learn to interrupt the language of hate.

Building a classroom community means acknowledging and appreciating differences.

Kids want their teachers to respect them—and push them to do their best.

Approaching students' home languages with respect is one of best ways teachers can connect with students.

When cultures meet, we must learn to listen for the nuances.

Educators find a way to make school more inviting to students who have not found it so in the past.

How do most principals think they should spend their time?

Of course, we must teach decoding, but we must teach it meaningfully.