Re-engaging Disconnected Youth

Contents: Program Design and Implementation - A History of the Experiential Outdoor Education Program - Westward Bound Expedition Closing Circle, June 2006 - Heading West: Hands-on Learning and Outdoor Education Increases Student Motivation - Factors That Influenced Transformative Learning: Hands-on Spontaneous Education - Factors That Influenced Transformative Learning: Separation From Normal Life - Factors That Influenced Transformative Learning: Nature - Restoring Community: The Impact of Restorative Justice Circles on Student Feelings of Connectedness - School Connectedness - Restorative Justice Overview - Restorative Justice in Schools - The School-to-Prison Pipeline - The Origin of Peacemaking Circles - Philosophy of Circles - Components of a Talking Circle - Causes of School Disconnection - Circle Fosters Positive Student - Teacher Relationships - Circle Shifts Student Perceptions of Each Other - Shared Experience, Mutual Respect/Trust, and Relatedness - Connectedness - Additional Results of Circle Experience - Forgiveness and Circle - Healing and Circle - Multicultural Education, Human Rights Education, and Teaching for Social Justice: Transforming Ideas About History, Racial Identity, and Service - Content Integration - Knowledge Construction - Transformational Learning via Wounded Knee - Prejudice Reduction - Racism and Circle - Equity Pedagogy - Culturally Relevant Practices - Human Rights Education - Social Justice in Education - Promoting Justice for Students - The Impact of Westward Bound on Middle School Learners - Needs Assessment - Unique Needs of Middle School Youth - The Middle School Program - Middle School Results: Hands-on Learning - Middle School Results: The Impact of Talking Circles - Extending the Boundaries of Transformative Learning - Afterword: Teacher as Transformative Learner (2011).