Uses a survey of educational attainment in urban Taiwan to explore the effects of ability grouping. Argues that because of the nature of educational institutionalization in Taiwan (universal basic education, a national curriculum, entrance examinations governing access to postcompulsory schooling) tracking reduces rather than accentuates the…

Examines transition of children from home or preschool to school in Australia and New Zealand. Almost all Australian states have a "reception" or kindergarten full-day year in school prior to Year 1, few have common entry ages, and most use a variety of enrollment procedures. Emphasizes need for continuity to smooth transitions and…

Interviews with parents from 50 Mexican-descent families revealed that parents encouraged their preschool children to ask questions about science and causal relationships; older and younger siblings learned different skills from one another; and children learned through observation and imitation. Discusses issues of "match" between home…

Outlines issues concerning families of children with severe behavioral and emotional disorders in a time of school reform. Reviews family participation in education and system change and enumerates principles of family participation. Discusses families' expanded roles and opportunities ranging from the individual student/family level up to the…

Examines parents who teach their children at home. While families have complex motives for home schooling, a common factor is parents' desire to maintain or further develop family unity, and to resist the effects of urbanization and modernization on the family. Suggests benefits of home/public school partnerships. (AF)

This paper describes how the principal and staff at an inner-city Canadian prairie school responded to student needs by making their school more intentionally inviting. The school gradually began to reflect the surrounding community by incorporating the Native American culture of many of its students. (SM)

A case study is reported that identified the individual, aggregate, and interactive effect of socioeconomic status, cultural, psychosocial, and academic factors that shaped the at-risk status of a Chicano fourth grader. The most significant at-risk factors included home violence and lack of continuous positive adult contact in school.…

Profiles individual projects in six school districts across the country participating in the School-Community Connection initiative funded by the Institute for Responsive Education. These projects focus on school improvement through partnerships among schools, parents, and the community. Rural and urban elementary and secondary schools are…

Reviews current issues concerning American Indian families and the education of Indian children. Highlights urbanization and its implications for American Indians' relationships with the public schools. Also discusses the need for culturally relevant school programs for American Indian students and their families and portrays several American…

Presents the "big six," problem solving strategies of highly effective students in all grade levels and subject areas. Outlines steps parents and media specialists can follow to help students with their homework. Sidebars present the big six skills and information seeking activities and a big six assignment organizer for grades three…

Considers theory and hypotheses about the relationship between preschool experiences and literacy outcomes that are based on the longitudinal Home-School Study of Language and Literacy Development project, now in its fourth year of data collection. Also discussed are the sample, data collection techniques, and types of analysis being used in the…

Presents study results of relationships between adolescents' perceptions of family and school environments and measures of their creativity, morality, and self-concept. Reports parallel forms of environment schedules to assess the social psychological contexts of families and schools. Concludes that self-concept, morality, and creativity have…

Discusses what schools, caregivers/teachers, parents, and communities can do to ensure/enhance children's learning and school readiness in accordance with the theoretical framework and eventual implementation of the 1990 National Education Goal 1. (BB)

Describes a series of activities presented at the 1996 Annual Cultural Diversity Celebration. The activities are designed to provide teachers with ideas that focus on family values, traditions, and homes. These lessons teach children that values such as love, caring, justice, and respect for human dignity are universal. (MJP)

Describes a project in which 16 classroom teachers from seven different schools collaborated with researchers in an extensive investigation of book access and rereading. Discusses enhancing book access in school and at home, and enhanced book access at home with books and audiotapes. Shows how these school/home programs helped young…