"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) The Value of Enhanced Reading Opportunities in High Schools: Report Finds Supplemental Reading Programs Can Improve…

Three questionnaires designed to measure attitudes regarding homework and the current homework policy in the Belmont Elementary School District are provided. The teachers' survey includes questions related to the district's homework policy (which is included in the instrument), the amount and type of homework they assign, and how they feel about…

Attitudes toward homework are explored through a review of research and interviews. The interviews were conducted with teachers, students, principals, and parents on the pros and cons of homework assignments. Included in the discussions were the kinds of homework assigned, reasons for the assignments, time spent on homework, and the effects of…

Like its two predecessors, "Preventing School Dropouts" [C1991] and "Preventing School Failure" [C2000], this third edition is a book about teaching. Although primarily written for teachers, tutors and parents may also find this book helpful. It is a collection of carefully selected teaching techniques aimed at helping young adults learn important…

Research shows clearly that children are more likely to succeed in learning when their families actively support them. When family members read with their children, talk with their teachers, participate in school or other learning activities and help them with homework, they give children a tremendous advantage. Home work is important because it…

Providing a low-key, nonthreatening way for teachers and parents to build partnerships for kids, this book presents short, concrete activities in English and Spanish to foster communication between teachers and parents and between parents and children. While the activities in the book are designed for grade 4, none of the activities have…

This booklet describes the Power Hour of Homework program for elementary school through secondary school students, including tips on implementing the program at home (i.e., checking homework, talking to the teacher, determining the correct amount of homework time for individual students) and survey responses to questions from parents and students.…

Ideas and activities for helping children attain success in school, in friendships and in sports are presented in this handbook for parents. The areas covered are: (1) developing a winning attitude; (2) increasing self-confidence; (3) improving reading skills; (4) gaining good study habits; (5) improving test-taking skills; (6) doing homework; (7)…

Presents 10 major issues parents need to address effectively in order to advocate for their children's education (safety, discipline, practices and policies, grading, labels, bias, curriculum and schedules, standardized tests, homework, and subject anxiety). The article suggests appropriate questions to ask the schools. (SM)

This document focuses on trends in school and home frameworks for learning found in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data from 1977 to 1990. Trends in classroom instruction, course taking, students' attitudes, homework versus television viewing, and reading habits and home support for literacy are considered. One table provides…

In parents' quest to keep children "well-rounded" with out-of-school activities, they leave little time for homework and other activities considered by many to be important for their education. However, those parents who advocate for reduced homework loads, stress-free schoolwork, and an increase in extracurricular activities may actually be doing…

Noting that parents are as important to children's success as teachers, this book suggests ways busy parents can support their children's learning. Chapter 1, "What's a Time-Starved Parent To Do?" discusses the demands on parents' free time, the child's role in learning, the parent's role in helping children learn, and the importance of parent…

The Families in Education Program of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has existed since 1987 to increase awareness of the need for schools to involve parents as partners in the education of their children. This parents' and teachers' guide presents ways that the theme for American Education Week, "Teaching Children To Think and…

This document tries to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the teaching and learning of science in order to provide parents and community leaders a base of information to help improve science education. Questions are posed in three major areas: science in American education; science in the classroom; and science in the home…

The guide for parents of French immersion students in Alberta (Canada) public schools is designed to answer frequently asked questions and encourage parent participation in the student's immersion experience. Chapters address these topics: terminology (program types, school types offering immersion programs, other terms); reasons for learning a…