Despite the proliferation of online homework websites and tutoring services, public libraries still have an important role to play when it comes to supporting young people's educational needs. Public libraries that take a proactive approach--by setting up organized homework centers--have the potential to become catalysts for better performance in…

Student outcomes in online courses trail considerably behind those in face-to-face courses. In order to gain insight into why this might be, the Community College Research Center (CCRC) undertook a series of studies that examined 23 high-demand, entry-level online courses at two community colleges in one state. CCRC researchers observed the online…

This book offers easy-to-follow steps that busy parents can readily implement to decrease homework meltdowns and help kids achieve their academic potential. Written for all parents of kids ages 7 to 16--regardless of whether the problem is a homework power struggle, ADHD, unidentified giftedness, or something else--this book shows parents the…

Three types of homework assignments are common in U.S. schools: practice, preparation, and extension. Reasons cited for assigning homework are: (1) Doing homework is useful as an act of intellectual discipline; (2) Homework eases time constraints on the amount of curricular material that can be covered; (3) Homework fosters student initiative,…

Even after children enter school, parents continue to be the most important adult influence on their lives. This booklet, directed to parents, contains more than 40 ways that parents can work with their child's school to support their child's learning. The suggestions are organized in several sections: (1) "Parent Involvement: The 3 V's,"…

Presents tips, gleaned from federal research, to help parents understand how their children are doing in school, including: know what is expected; know the child's reading level; understand test scores; solicit teacher feedback; become familiar with the child's homework; use report cards to identify overall progress; stay attuned to social skills;…

This volume offers strategies and suggestions for college instructors at all levels in the form of 49 teaching tools (organized into 12 sections) that cover both traditional tasks--writing a course syllabus, delivering an effective lecture--and newer, broader concerns such as responding to diversity and using technology. Each tool includes a brief…

This guide is the sixth in a series of guidelines designed to be a framework for positive action at the school site and in the classroom through the High Schools That Work (HSTW) program, an effort to raise the achievement of career-bound students. It explains how providing students with a system of extra time and help can motivate them to meet…