candy beal's Page

. Currently much of my work is linked with that of Dr. Carol Pope and Dr. Lodge McCammon as we continue to develop and research The Outsiders Project (TOP). This project looks at middle schoolers as partners and teachers in the development of our teacher education students. TOP is going into its 4th year of implementation and we are currently in the writing phase as well as altering year number four’s implementation to probe more deeply into how the message of the book The Outsiders resonates with early adolescents. The project is technology rich and also explores the power of technology in teaching early adolescents. In addition, the project looks at development theories as they are evident in the participants and how the characteristics of these theories influence teaching and learning choices.

I continue to travel to Russia and work with Russian teachers as well as work in the local schools with portions of the North Carolina Sixth Grades Go to Russia project. Sixth grade teachers use that project (implemented with 5,000 NC students and their teachers as well as with students and teachers on three continents) when they teach Russia. My work is linked to Dr. Lois Holcomb’s Web 2.0 work as we develop an interactive Google Earth project that weaves student choice and interactivity with Piaget’s concrete to abstract learning through James Beane’s curriculum integration approach.

My greatest joy is teaching ECI 309 and ECI 550, both foundations classes in middle level education. ECI 551 will be taught in the spring using a new format, one that will utilize a great deal of field experiences, all in an effort to return joy and innovation to curriculum development and support curriculum integration in the classroom.

My current service activities involve working with local schools and my professional development is focused on in depth reading in my field and publications. The fifth edition of the Beal, Bolick, Martorella methods social studies text has been completed and is in publication.