Education

Contends that in order to improve the academic performance of low-income urban students, communities and policy-makers should not stress higher standards and more tests, but should invest in the youths' communities. The author draws on his experiences as a teacher and researcher in the San Francisco Bay area to illustrate in each chapter a different problem that affects schools. These include the impacts of social class, segregation, poverty and violence, and the role of schools in closing the achievement gap. 187 pages. $50. Teachers College Press.

Summarizes research and outlines what remains undiscovered in the field. Professionals offer insight on how to identify students with learning difficulties and perspectives about student performance and brain processes. This comprehensive guide would benefit youth workers interested in accessing the best resources for struggling students. 548 pages. $70. The Guilford Press.

Highlights 150 health problems that adolescents may face while at school or in community programs. The authors identify problems and symptoms and explain what actions educators and youth workers should take. The book includes information about learning disabilities, the stigmas and self-esteem issues attached to various health problems, and basic health policies and procedures for organizations. 144 pages. $44.95. Corwin Press.

Defends the schools against a public that the author believes is quick to blame them for failing to develop children, a problem Evans places more on the shoulders of families and communities. The book examines the emerging challenges in child development and concludes with a section on the abilities and limitations of educators and youth workers addressing those problems. 294 pages. $25.
Jossey-Bass.

Details the author's "critical inquiry" approach to working with youth from various nationalities and ethnicities. The former Philadelphia-area teacher's method entails extensive one-on-one engagement with students in classrooms, which he says improves the work of students, whom he views as trapped in an apathetic educational culture. An interesting read for youth workers seeking to get more from youth in an educational setting. 171 pages. $21.95. Teachers College Press.

Portrays after-school programming in the United States as a long-growing movement on the verge of reaching its potential in poor communities. The author, a child development expert, guides readers through after-school history, from 19th century boys clubs to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. After profiling the structure and procedures of several modern after-school programs, Halpern concludes with a vision of what should be done to foster the continued growth and expansion of after-school programming. 192 pages, $24.95. Teachers College Press.

Analyzes the fascinating stories of nine of the author's students at Albany Free School. The students, all diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), would typically be treated with medication like Ritalin. But the nontraditional private school rejects using drugs for children labeled with ADHD, and insists that the children learn to develop self-discipline, social skills and ways to focus their attention. Mercogliano presents a compelling case for a reversal of the expanding use of Ritalin on children, opting instead for nonpharmaceutical alternatives.
256 pages. $25. Beacon Press.

Uses the experiences of a veteran teacher to show how to excite youth about learning through creative activities and a dynamic atmosphere. The author writes about using games to motivate students, getting kids to constructively use free time, using news and events like the Olympics to teach math or lessons about competition, and making tests less stressful. For some, the book may feel a bit saccharine: The author is a motivational speaker who loves exclamation points and publishing letters from former students saying how wonderful she was! ScarecrowEducation.

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