Effectiveness of a supervised visitation program to maintain the relationship between parents and adjudicated children in foster care is explored using a retrospective design. Participating families were more likely to have a visit and had more visits than nonparticipating families. Case closure results also support the value of the program.…

Examines issues concerned with the process of choosing schools in the private and state sectors at the primary stage and at the time of transfer to secondary school. Finds that choices about schools are made at different times and in different ways by parents using the state and private sectors. (DSK)

Reviews the report of a study that examined the effects of maternal depression on children. Provides detailed chapter descriptions including positive comments on the use of case studies, interviews, and tests. Comments negatively on the positioning of the main thesis and the complex jargon that might limit the audience. (SD)

To improve homework quality in the classroom, teachers should clear up homework fogginess and use strategies for success, including creating goal-directed assignments, balancing homework, allowing time to finish assignments, viewing homework-assignment time as part of the learning process, helping students organize their homework, and helping…

Surveys examined K-12 parents' and teachers' perceptions of parent roles, efficacy, and opportunities for involvement. Teachers rated parents as being more effective through their participation than did parents. Teachers also reported more parental barriers and fewer opportunities for involvement. Most respondents emphasized the importance of…

Tested a model of the influence of homework on classroom performance using a sample of 429 students in grades 2 and 4, their parents, and their 28 teachers. Data reveal the critical role of parents in both the homework process and the success of elementary school students. Positive parent involvement in homework was the strongest predictor of…

Discusses the importance of fathers in the lives of young children. Describes the Partners for Fragile Families (PFF) project, a national initiative operating in 10 cities to integrate low-income single fathers into their children's lives and to help strengthen families. Notes that a partnership with the National Head Start Association will offer…

Examined the effect of modernity on traditional patterns of parenting with Danish dual-earner parents with different socio-cultural backgrounds. Findings suggest that even in the age of modernity, parenthood in some families is strongly marked by traditional patterns of attitudes and behavior, and that parents' socio-cultural background influences…

Proposes strategies to help middle school teachers and parents remain current in their knowledge of good young adolescent literature. Notes the importance of collaboration for finding quality books, developing lists of books, defining quality, and deciding the place of popular fiction in a reader's education. (JPB)

Notes that fathers' involvement in the preschool classroom is typically less than mothers'. Outlines ways educators can encourage fathers to be involved in children's preschool experiences through: (1) parent teacher conferences; (2) field trips and special events; (3) group time sharing; (4) calling home; (5) drop off/pick up; (6) positive…

Describes inclusive education, explaining what it is and what it is not; presenting components of successful inclusive programs (strong leadership, collaboration, student support, refocused use of assessment, funding, and effective parent involvement); and describing the parent's role. Sidebars discusses person-first language, the Individuals with…

Notes that research is confirming that much of what makes a person unique is the result of experiences in the first three years of life. Notes the long-term effects of inadequate nurturing, the role of extended family, and the challenges for parents, educators, and policymakers posed by these research findings. (HTH)

A study investigated the efficacy of an intervention model to promote student involvement in transition planning. The intervention included coaching youth in student-directed planning skills to achieve transition goals, peer-based mentorship and parent support, and in-service education for staff. Participants demonstrated significant increases in…

Looks at a sample of fathers' early literacy experiences with their Kindergarten, first, and second grade children. Explores the subject area of the literacy activity, the amount of time allocated to literacy practices, and the preferred literacy activity engaged in--reading or writing. Finds that fathers participate in their children's literacy…

The paper raises theoretical insights against central premises underlying the policy of parental choice and educational market from the standpoint of the institutional theory of organization. It discusses how the institutional theory may explain the barriers to diversity, responsiveness, and improvement, all of which are assumed to be driven by…