This paper summarizes investigations of school connectedness completed by the Social Development Research Group in two longitudinal studies, the Seattle Social Development Project and Raising Healthy Children. The theoretical importance of school connectedness, empirical support for the theoretical propositions of the impact of school…

The paper presents the results of an evaluation research that studied the impact of a nationwide home intervention program, the Mother-Child Education Program, on both children and mothers immediately after the termination of the program and at the end of the children's first year of formal schooling. A pre/post control group quasiexperimental…

The Wingspread Conference Series (2003-2005), "Strategies to Strengthen the Relationship between Higher Education and Society", brought together scholars, institutional and national leaders, community activists, and graduate and undergraduate students to examine the current and evolving relationships between higher education and society. The goals…

Mentoring is a structured one-on-one relationship between an adult and youth that focuses on the needs of the youth, providing him or her with support, guidance, and assistance. This information capsule summarizes research findings on the impact of mentoring on factors such as academic achievement, social behaviors, attitudes, drug and alcohol…

This collection of articles describes an interdisciplinary cooperative effort in the context of PREP (Prekindergarten Education Program) intervention. The PREP began with the intention of developing a culturally competent education system for Hawaiian children and their families. An introductory chapter "Applied Research and Program…

This report examines the necessity for holistic learning--the integration of intellectual, social, and emotional aspects of learning at the undergraduate level. It reviews and evaluates research findings, theoretical models, and the relationship and interdependency of these developmental areas. An introductory chapter considers the increasing…

Although the forces that are globalizing the economy, democratizing political life, and ushering in a knowledge society promise to improve humanity, they are also exacerbating the marginalization of individuals and the polarization of entire nations. Many individuals in developing nations are at risk of systematic exclusion from meaningful…

This qualitative and quantitative study focused on two groups of preschoolers (ages 4-6) enrolled in rural special education classes. The study specifically examined children's planful behaviors and the relationship of planfulness to learning as exhibited through play. Also examined were children's planning levels when planning was explicitly…

This publication focuses on the vignette studies done as part of an evaluation of the development of those transferable and personal skills which had been given prominence by the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) in Scotland. It presents results of a qualitative study of individual practices. Four vignettes are based on…

Youth in foster care are at particular risk for engaging in early sexual behavior due to frequent moves that have disrupted trusting relationships and schooling, and sometimes because of histories of sexual abuse. This manual was developed by experts in the field of sexuality education for use primarily by foster parents with children in their…

This report describes a 12-week practicum that was designed to decrease the number of special education referrals of at-risk kindergarten students for developmental delays in communication through a direct, in-class, social language program. The program was implemented in five kindergarten classrooms and used developmentally appropriate,…

This module is part of a training program for foster parents and foster care workers offered at Colorado State University. The module's learning objectives address: (1) child development in the contexts of family and social development; (2) the physical, social, mental, and psychological tasks of adolescence; (3) the range of normal adolescent…

This binder includes 102 reproducible articles written specifically for the parents of children, ages 3 and younger, who have been diagnosed with physical disabilities and delays. Practitioners are encouraged to select appropriate articles and: distribute them at parent-clinician conferences; send them home with any parent communication, report…

The kind of literacy education currently valued in America has been ineffective in teaching more thoughtful literacy skills. A sociocognitive approach to literacy instruction focuses on developing the thinking skills that students will use as they engage in socially purposeful activities. Teachers, tests, and instructional materials in this…

The article describes a pilot program to encourage independent communication in seven nonverbal children (ages 6-8) with orthopedic and/or neurological involvement or cerebral palsy. Transdisciplinary team members included the classroom teacher, speech clinician, instructional aide, computer resource person, occupational therapist, physical…