Describes a self-contained bilingual primary classroom in a nonsupportive school environment. Details educational practices and activities related to social and academic English, use of both languages for instruction, development of reading and writing in English and Spanish, and home-school connections. Discusses the need for staff development in…

Uses data from the 1990 Census Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) to provide several explanations for the educationally disadvantaged position of Mexican-origin adolescents. Considers the influence of socioeconomic family backgrounds, English-language ability, and migration history. Includes a discussion of research methodology and statistical…

Examines how temporal and status aspects of mothers' jobs during daughters' early childhood, preadolescence, and adolescence affect rate that daughters leave school. Studied 246 white and 188 black daughters aged 18-23. Findings suggest that part-time maternal employment during any point in childhood increases likelihood that black, but not white,…

Reports on the development of a comprehensive education program "Step by Step: A Program for Children and Families" in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. Designed for young children from birth to age eight and their families, this program attempts to share U.S. teaching methods that promote democratic principles…

Revisits issues related to self concept development in light of a more sophisticated understanding of cultural influences. Examines the construction of a view of self as independent or interdependent and its impact on socialization and development. Suggests ways for early childhood practitioners to increase their sensitivity to the values and…

This article explores how the school-based wraparound approach and a school-wide systems approach to positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) work together to create more effective school environments and improved outcomes for students with or at risk of behavioral challenges. Complementary aspects of these wraparound and PBIS…

Illustrates how early childhood professionals can and do play an important role in providing secure and developmentally appropriate educational environments for young children by facilitating and improving teacher-family interactions. Provides strategies for improving family involvement. (BB)

Argues that public schools often ignore the strategic and cultural resources, termed funds of knowledge, that Mexican-American households contain. These funds are a key to understanding the cultural systems of Mexican-American children and can be useful assets in the classroom. (SLD)

Discusses some of the cultural and value differences between Native Americans and the dominant society that often cause discontinuity between traditional home and school life among Native American children and their families. Also discusses ways in which elementary school teachers can help Native American children achieve inner harmony between two…

Explores interconnected movements to restructure school-family and school-community relationships, focusing on increased parental involvement in school governance, instructional partnerships, school-to-community outreach, and children's service coordination. Emphasizes the national crisis in urban children's lives, complementary societal…

Reviews research and current trends and issues related to family involvement in children's education. Discusses the need for diverse approaches to involving culturally diverse parents; growing awareness of the importance of fathers' involvement; factors that promote or impede parent participation; achievement-related factors that parents can…

This study examined the approaches and expectations about personal and professional balance among senior student affairs officers. Demographic variables were also examined to determine how they affected the relationships between the main variables. (Contains 1 figure.)

The present study is a longitudinal examination of family-school communication in preschool and kindergarten. Preschool and kindergarten teachers and family workers of 75 children from families with low SES logged the frequency and characteristics of family-school communication, resulting in over 22,000 contacts. Data were collected during a…

A developmental ecological model was used to identify child attributes, father characteristics, and familial factors associated with multidimensional father involvement with preschool children enrolled in Head Start. The relations between father involvement and children's school readiness were also investigated. Eighty-five African American…

Blaming unsatisfactory student achievement on the middle school concept is a case of mistaken identity. Too many middle schools have failed to fully implement the middle school concept. Based on statements from the Carnegie Council and the National Middle School Association, the middle school concept calls for improved academic achievement for all…