Describes the rationale and structure of a research project that focused on the role of reading in second-language acquisition. Special focus is placed on the initial stages of the project as well as characteristics of the backgrounds of the students involved. (seven references) (JL)

Interactive language arts homework helps parents and children come together on activities they enjoy. The article presents a project in which students interview their parents on hairstyles from their youth, write a paragraph about the subject, then follow up with class activities. Includes a questionnaire form for students to give their parents.…

Discusses case studies of the United States, Germany, and Japan included in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Highlights national standards, teacher training and working conditions, attitudes toward dealing with ability differences, and the place of school in adolescents' lives. Compared to Japanese and German…

A synthesis of 20 studies that investigated the perceptions of 4,659 elementary and secondary students (760 with disabilities) of instructional procedures in inclusive classrooms found that students with high-incidence disabilities and their typical peers want to have the same activities, books, homework, grading criteria, and grouping practices…

Describes The Pottstown Homework Center Partnership, which initiated homework centers and trained volunteer tutors to support middle school "at risk" students. Describes tutor recruitment and training; identifies eligibility requirements for student participants; and reports tutor-child interactions. Includes outcomes, interpretations,…

Presents specific strategic and organizational advice to parents on helping children with nightly homework. (WRM)

Suggests that middle school literature circles using novels based around a common theme can change the classroom climate to be more supportive toward taking greater academic risks. Notes that students were offered a choice of book, homework pace, and group roles. (RS)

Examined whether brief, take-home fitness and wellness lessons given to college physical education activity classes could teach students lifetime fitness concepts. Pre- and post-intervention surveys found that intervention students showed significant cognitive improvements compared to controls. They engaged in regular physical activity and…

A study evaluated the effects of instruction in a comprehensive, independent assignment completion strategy on homework completion rates and the quality of products completed in response to assignments given in general education classrooms. Eight of nine students mastered use of the strategy and their homework completion rates and products…

Presents methods for implementing a home-learning activity program that meets the needs of parents and teachers, and most important, children. Addresses issues of implementation, specific activities and strategies, areas of concern, and applications for classroom teachers. Stresses alternatives to worksheets and the importance of family…

Educational psychologists find that prior knowledge influences new learning. We examined whether course achievement for introductory psychology students is facilitated or impaired by their prior knowledge of psychology. We administered a pretest exam to 422 students early in the semester and gathered subsequent exam scores and other measures of…

Many studies have examined the relationship between environmental processes and literacy outcomes. However, nearly all of this research has examined biologically related family members living together, thus confounding genetic and environmental influences. The purpose of this study was to address this issue using a sample of 262 adopted children…

This research examined changes in intrinsic and extrinsic motivation during the transition from junior to senior high school as well as the impact of motivational changes on various educational consequences (i.e., dropout intentions, absenteeism, homework frequency, and educational aspirations). A total of 646 participants completed a…

We report on implementations of online homework systems at two moderately-sized state universities. These implementations were created with the intention of supporting student engagement outside of the classroom by mimicking the attempt-feedback-reattempt sequence of events which often occurs in a teacher's presence. Evidence is presented which…

The surprising success of Live Homework Help, a product of Tutor.com unknown to libraries before 2001, is in very large part owing to the company's effort to understand library funding and help libraries tap into all kinds of potential funding sources. The story is a model for partnerships between other companies and libraries. For the people of…