1. Today's Students: Patterns of Diversity

Using the following online directories (if necessary), locate Web sites for one urban, one suburban, and one rural school in your area. After perusing these two sites, find one more school of each type, but this time make sure they are all located in another part of the country (preferably a remote region or state that you are not very familiar with).

Yahoo! K-12 School Directory (by U.S. state)

Education World's School Directory

How much does each school's Web site tell you about the diversity of its student body? Write a one-paragraph profile of each school. If you couldn't find any (or much) diversity information, why do you think this is the case?

Compare and contrast these schools in terms of their student body diversity. Which similarities and differences seem to be based on regional location (i.e., which state or county each school is located in) and which seem to be based on whether the school is situated in an urban, suburban, or rural setting? Explain your answers.

2. Native American Education Today

Using this directory, visit the Web sites for three different Native American K-12 schools. Compare and contrast these three schools in terms of their educational, political, and social focus. What similarities and differences can you identify? How do these schools compare to the more mainstream American schools with which you are familiar?

In what ways do these three schools and their Web sites reflect the Native American education issues discussed in your textbook?

3. Desegregation

Although desegregation has expanded opportunities to many African Americans, its 50-year career reminds me that redistributing educational opportunity may be as difficult as redistributing wealth and power.

4. Hidden America: Homeless Families

Click here to visit the Web site for the National Center for Homeless Education. Based on what you see here, how much progress have we made since the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (as amended in 1990) in terms of educating homeless children? Summarize the NCHE's current initiatives and resources.

What strategies can you come up with for addressing this growing problem?

5. Children: At Promise or At Risk?

The following Web sites correspond to the six "At Risk" categories discussed in your textbook. Of course, there are many other organizations working to solve these problems, but these sites will give you a good idea of how some educators, mental health professionals, government groups, and local communities are trying to address these important issues. Take a few moments to peruse each site. Then choose the three organizations that are most interesting to you and answer the questions below.

National Dropout Prevention Center

National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

NEA Health Information Network

National Institute on Drug Abuse: NIDA Goes to School

Youth Suicide Prevention Program (Washington State)

Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network

No matter which three sites you chose, you will find that they offer guidelines, statistics and strategies to assist youth at risk. What patterns do you notice in the data? Resources? Strategies?

How might these organizations work together? Based on these Web sites, how do you think school districts can respond to the needs of students who fall into several of these categories (e.g., homosexual and suicidal)?

6. The Anti-Achievement Dilemma

Many students avoid academic excellence because they fear their peers will label them "nerds" (or worse). Click here to read a piece from The Cincinnati Enquirer, Thursday, May 28, 1998

What are some of the cultural inhibitors and catalysts for student achievement? What influence does a student's home life have on their desire and ability to excel? What "lessons" can you take from this article and apply to your own teaching? How might this discussion affect the way you handle a class of students with diverse cultural backgrounds?