Findings from two studies indicate that the nature of Canadian children's environments within their families, schools, neighborhoods, and communities has very strong effects on children's development and the prevalence of childhood vulnerability. Rather than stemming primarily from poverty, childhood vulnerability may arise from the environments…

A study examined family influences on reading motivation in Latino children. Surveys and interviews with 18 Latino students in an urban southwestern elementary school and their parents indicated that as domestic workload increased, the value children placed on reading decreased. The more time families spent together and on religious literacy…

Case studies of six young women with learning disabilities revealed three career development phases: unsettled, exploratory, and focused. Phases varied along two dimensions stability of employment and clarity of career goals. Key elements influencing career development included motivation and determination, family support, career exploration…

Discusses eight novels by the following female novelists from Africa: (1) Buchi Emecheta; (2) Flora Nwapa; (3) Bessie Head; and (4) Mariama Ba. Explores customs and attitudes that cause the most suffering to their female characters. Examines signs of change which suggest hope for the elimination of these causes. (JS)

Research-based classroom techniques and procedures for teaching reading to learning-disabled students are outlined, including teacher activities before reading, teacher activities during and after reading, methods for improving students' reading behaviors, and the impact of peers and family on pupil pursuits during reading. (MSE)

This article discusses findings from a seven-year longitudinal study of 24 junior high students. The study examined ways in which student beliefs about the future were affected by school, family, the economy, and peers. The effects of race, gender, and class on student dreams were also examined. (IAH)

Presents a conceptual framework and research model for examining the confluence of factors predictive of child maltreatment. The framework consists of an ecological approach which posits child maltreatment as a function of individual, family, social and cultural factors. Hybrid observational cohort-case/control design is the proposed research…

A model of college student choice for male and female ninth graders using LISREL is examined. Variables examined included parents' expectation regarding higher education for their children, parents' savings for college, students' discussion of college with their parents, and students' aspiration for postsecondary education. (Author/MLW)

Reports family background continues to be closely related to educational attainment. Suggests that because there is a strong negative relation between the number of siblings and scores on tests measuring verbal ability, recent reductions in sibling number would be expected to contribute to enhanced verbal ability and increasing years of schooling.…

Reviews "Strong Hearts, Wounded Souls," by Tom Holt, which examines American Indian involvement in war and the life experiences of Indian Vietnam veterans. An excerpt draws on the Readjustment Counseling Service's survey of Indian veterans to discuss childhood experiences, cultural traditions, and community and family influences that motivated…

Explores developmental issues regarding domain theory, a theory explaining moral development. Concludes that this theory does not explain how domains of moral reasoning and behavior evolve, neglects social and historical aspects of domain development, and does not recognize the effects of individual differences on domains. (JW)

Reviewed research findings with respect to family influences on student achievement. Identified five family and home environmental factors that affect student achievement and whose effects may be altered through intervention: parent expectations and attributions, structure for learning, home affective environment, discipline, and parent…

Among over 24,000 eighth graders in the National Education Longitudinal Study, the lower academic achievement of students in stepfamilies relative to those in intact 2-parent families was largely explained by differences in parents' economic and cultural resources and involvement in children's school and nonschool activities. Boys and girls fared…

Analyzed the relationship between general coding orientation and specific characteristics associated with the family (social class, race, gender) and the school (pedagogic practice and science achievement) of (n=80) socially differentiated elementary school children. Found that there is a mutual influence of family and school factors on students'…

Investigated the relationship between marital adjustment and children's functioning at school and home. Marital adjustment was significantly related to two achievement measures (grades and teacher reports of school performance) and a trend was found for a third (achievement test scores). Significant associations also were found for other measures…