This Wallace "Perspective" delves into what makes for a high-quality, voluntary summer learning program, one that provides children from disadvantaged communities with engaging academics as well as stimulating enrichment activities during the interval between the end of the school year and back-to-school time. Interest in these programs…

Over the past three years, California State University, Bakersfield received NSF funding to support hands-on explorations in "network security" and "cryptography" through Research Experience Vitalizing Science-University Program (REVS-UP). In addition to the summer bridge component, the grant included development of…

This dissertation serves as a call to geoscientists to share responsibility with K-12 educators for increasing Earth science literacy. When partnerships are created among K-12 educators and geoscientists, the synergy created can promote Earth science literacy in students, teachers, and the broader community. The research described here resulted in…

As numerous studies from 1906 on have confirmed, children lose ground in learning if they lack opportunities for building skills over the summer. Nonetheless, summer learning loss comes up but rarely in the national discussion of education reform. By the end of summer, students perform on average one month behind where they left off in the spring.…

The gifted summer school at McGill University serves over 300 pupils and some 35 teachers from across Canada. Demonstration teachers are recruited from all over North America. The school is unique in demonstrating several specific curricular models for gifted programs. (Author/CL)

This "Fastback" provides suggestions for expanding or developing an academic summer program, which is an educational strategy that uses a program evaluation to achieve specific goals or outcomes designed to serve a selected student population in a school or community setting during the summer. Although no single model exists for these programs, a…

Tips on organizing a creative teaching experience for summer vacation time are offered. Program organization, student selection, course content, publicity, and funding are aspects to be considered when planning a summer arts program. (DF)

The paper reviews court decisions mandating extended-year programs for students with severe and multiple handicaps for whom regression during the summer break threatens the development of independence and addresses considerations in developing such extended year programs. Guidelines center on eligibility, funding, program focus, program length,…

The development of the GATEWAY (Gifted And Talented Education With Artistic Youth) program is described. The Aiken County, South Carolina, summer program offers enrichment activities for students from grades 3-12 in music, drama, visual arts, and dance. Described are the student selection process and program activities. (JDD)

"Family learning vacations" 5-10 day summer residential programs for families with deaf children, are described. Guidelines for establishing such a program are given concerning rationale, physical plant, eligibility, scheduling, parent activities, children's activities, and evaluation. (Author/DB)

This guide stems from concern that many classroom teachers have limited exposure to the scientific community in general and to the nature and method of science in particular. It offers guidelines and suggestions to plan, conduct, and evaluate summer mentorship programs and gives practical advice on establishing programs, garnering institutional…

This paper contains a description of key features of the Summer Institute on Teaching and Assessing Writing Skills, which was organized to help parents, teachers, and administrators in the Boston Public Schools begin to develop a comprehensive and coordinated writing program from kindergarten through grade 12 in each district. It also offers…

This project focused on both students and their teachers. Through the SLICK (Summer Learning in Colchester for Kids) component, children were afforded the opportunity to participate in several enrichment courses during the summer of 1987. Through the effective teaching component, teachers assisted in training their peers, and coached one another…

Designed to help librarians plan a summer reading program around the theme of bears called "have a bearable summer," this activity guide presents many activities and organizational suggestions. The first section of the guide deals with publicity and public relations, while the second section covers story time activities. The third…

Because studies have found that children can lose a year in their reading skills and motivation during summers, this planning guide suggests ways for librarians to interest children in a summer reading program by appealing to their fascination with bears and teddy bears. The guide is organized chronologically, beginning with a timetable, followed…