Parents (n=703) in a college freshman summer orientation program indicated the skills most needed to face future challenges: communication skills, computer skills, critical thinking and decision making, interpersonal skills, and adaptability. These skills correlate with those taught in general education courses, underscoring the relationship…

Describes an outreach program developed by a public library system for introducing library services to parents of preschool children enrolled in a Head Start center. Topics discussed include the importance of reading to children; sensitivity to bilingual needs; adult literacy needs; sample picture books; and nonprint materials available at the…

Describes the development and use of the Traveling Tales backpack for engaging children and parents in home writing activities. Shares the experiences of one child and how his family became involved in helping him write a book. (MG)

Longitudinal data from 104 children administered the Slingerland Procedures in kindergarten and achievement tests in later grades found significant relationships between Slingerland measures and reading outcomes, with prediction varying across grades and according to the reading measure used. Listening contributed to reading comprehension but not…

Describes a microcomputer program that serves as a front-end to an online library catalog and other information sources and provides guidance to students on searching for and evaluating information. Funding, technology, evaluation, impact on other libraries, and future plans are discussed. Sample screens are included. (Contains 75 references.)…

A rationale is presented for educational change and the strategies to achieve it. The model of speech communities of Dell Hymes is used to show how language differences are connected to social and economic disparities. Efforts to create new speech communities to overcome inequalities are discussed. (SLD)

States that there is concern in Western nations that literacy rates are falling. Asserts Reading Recovery programs can reverse this trend. Reports on evaluation studies of Reading Recovery and contends that the short-term gains that result from Reading Recovery programs require further research. (CFR)

Examines effects of several mediating factors (experimenter and partner sex, sex typing, and past experience) on a computer-interaction task completed by 154 male and 223 female college students in dyads. Computer experience is related to computer experience for all students. Findings support the expected pattern of male advantage but highlight…

A sample of 14 college and 8 high school biology textbooks were evaluated to determine whether they provided accurate and adequate descriptions and examples of scientific thinking. The authors contrast their views of the nature of scientific thinking with those of the textbook authors on the concepts of hypothesis, theory, law, and principle. (MDH)

Provides basic information for using the Internet, and discusses benefits of e-mail, World Wide Web, Internet search engines, Web sites, and listservs for early childhood educators. Notes how the Internet can facilitate research and communication with colleagues and parents and can be a teaching tool as well. Includes lists of early childhood Web…

A family literacy program used "Be Excited about Reading" bags, which contained quality children's books and family activities that extended the classroom theme to be taken home by at-risk prekindergarten and kindergarten students. The literacy bags reached all families, encouraged family/school partnerships promoting children's learning, affected…

Presents four articles on the use of computer technology with young children: "Computers for Infants and Young Children" (David Elkind); "Using Technology to Enhance Early Learning Experiences" (Kirsten Haugen); "Creative Use of Technology with School-Agers" (Ina Lynn McClain); and "Evaluating and Selecting Software for Children" (Charles…

Describes the Computer Support Program (CSP) at Monett (Missouri) Schools where high school students operating from a "control room" assist students and teachers throughout the district in their use of technology. Benefits include increased teacher self-reliance and increased self-esteem in CSP students, and CSP student-created Internet scavenger…

Advocates the establishment of a well-organized Professional Development Program (PDP) for on-going instruction/technology training of school, college, and university instructors, as well as Instructor-Administration Socialization (IAS) to enhance intellectual synergy and provide an environment that reinforces collegiate dialog among instructors…

Discusses media literacy in Australia, where it is an integral component of school literacies from K-12. Discusses the teaching of analytic skills to develop strategies for thinking about the meanings media transmit and the meanings viewers construct for themselves. Describes classroom activities involving the studies of texts, audiences, media…