Five alternatives to traditional field experiences in special education are described and contrasted, including: infusion of experiences within content courses; traditional experiences offered during the summer session; working practica; roving practica; and specialized field-experiences. It is argued that these alternatives can provide…

Various partnerships between public and school libraries in the Northwest are described, from summer reading programs to continuous collaboration. School librarians appreciate the support available from public libraries, which becomes more important as school budgets tighten and services in schools become vulnerable. But the presence of a…

Discusses diffusion-based electronic mail instruction integrated into summer institutes attended by foreign language educators. Findings reveal that diffusion-based instruction was effective in encouraging participants to use electronic mail more frequently than comparable foreign language teachers who did not attend the institutes. (30…

Reports on four low-income families enrolled in a summer family literacy pilot program. Describes how all of the families used literacy for meaningful purposes. Notes that the purposes and degrees of literacy used differed in connection with the social-contextual factors in their lives. (SR)

Two studies of gifted 3rd through 7th graders (n=311) enrolled in a summer academic program explored the possibility that social coping strategies could be measured. Six social coping strategies were identified: denying giftedness; minimizing focus on popularity; social interaction; humor; conformity; and denying the impact of giftedness on peer…

A 4-week summer institute committed to helping talented minorities pursue graduate degrees in education immerses participants in a graduate-level curriculum of critical and cultural theory, increases their language and analytical skills, and prepares them for and supports them through the graduate school application process. In 10 years, the…

Focuses on developing media relations, emergency policies, and handling press communications during crises at camps. Uses numerous anecdotes to describe good press relations and methods of working with news reporters. Emphasizes importance of emergency planning and establishing press coordinator. Describes crisis monitoring and follow-up…

The Tri-District Arts Consortium in South Carolina was formed to serve artistically gifted students in grades six-nine. The consortium developed a summer program offering music, dance, theatre, and visual arts instruction through a curriculum of intense training, performing, and hands-on experiences with faculty members and guest artists. (JDD)

The Modern Language Association's summer institute model for foreign language professionals focused on interchange among state and local school program supervisors and college program coordinators. To further strengthen links between mandates and implementation, the institute must recognize participants' disparate expectations, institutional…

This article describes a 2-week summer program, Urban Summer Education Program, for 40 Black high school students who expressed an interest in teaching. The program is 1 of several that are outlined, whose aim is to encourage minority students to enter the teaching profession. (IAH)

Describes a three-week summer institute for middle school teachers in which they explored quantitative reasoning, the notion of variable, various algebraic concepts, and proportional reasoning. Activities included journal writing, field experience, and sharing time. (MKR)

Presents suggestions from 17 day-care center directors on ways to improve summer enrollment. Suggestions include marketing summer programs early; offering reasonable fees, with reduced fees for low-income families; organizing new or different summer programs; creating a summer camp atmosphere; offering short-term summer programs; and including…

Fifty-three children (ages 9-13) with dyslexia completed a summer tutoring program that emphasized word-building skills. Children who received piracetam (a purportedly memory-enhancing drug) did not improve more than nonmedicated children in any aspect of reading. Children subtyped as "phonetic" improved significantly more in…

Describes an intensive 2-week Operation Physics Institute at Western Washington University for 67 elementary and middle school teachers designed to improve science instruction. Presented several discrepant events in physics; teachers explained the events with scientific methods with the aid of concept lists. (KS)

Summarizes the reflections of the developers of the Literacy Outreach Program (LOP) about how they might better support at-risk students' learning through attempting to build bridges between the home and the program. Notes the importance of inviting (instead of mandating) parents to participate, as well as modeling for parents appropriate…