Outlines the evolution and goals of the Family Literacy Project (FLP), developed to encourage parent-school partnerships through regular parent-teacher seminars. The FLP also seeks to improve parents' own literacy skills; provide parents with multiple strategies to help educate their children; and provide teachers and parents with multicultural…

A researcher and four elementary teachers conducted collaborative action research to explore, implement, and document practitioner initiated change. The article highlights the political nature of action research linked with reform, noting that peers and principals can silence teachers' voices. Collaborative action research groups may provide…

This study, involving 40 preschool children with speech/language disorders, compared the costs and effectiveness of a home parent training intervention and a clinic-based, low parent involvement intervention. Longitudinal effects were comparable, supporting the feasibility of offering options to parents and the need for broadly trained…

Examines the myths surrounding the introduction of native language instruction in American Indian communities. Despite the concerns of many parents, such instruction does not "hold back" students, and in fact empowers them to succeed in school. Parent-community involvement is essential for dispelling myths and for reinforcement of the…

Describes counseling approaches used in a two-year parenting program at a primary school. In addition to individual counseling, counselors can offer in-depth parent training programs, monthly parent presentations, or parent resource materials on needed topics. Such strategies help parents guide their children through most school problems. (RJM)

Contends that mental mapping of school and community violence provides a concrete picture of youth perspectives on violence. Presents a lesson plan to help students analyze violence issues and develop community service projects. Includes student objectives, step-by-step instructional procedures, and a student handout. (CFR)

Examined sociocultural influences on mathematics achievement. First generation Chinese American and Caucasian American mother-father-daughter triads were audiotaped as the fifth- and sixth-grade girls solved a spatial puzzle. Chinese American triads were quieter, more respectful, more serious, and more orderly, whereas Caucasian American triads…

Interviews with 24 minority-group junior and senior education majors, with faculty, and with administrators at 2 colleges of education demonstrate the importance of including the views of minority students in any meaningful assessment of the efforts of teacher preparation programs to address racial diversity. (SLD)

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…

Describes forms of parental choice that have been proposed as policy tools to improve education and reviews research that supports these options. Parents who exercise choice tend to be better educated and to be already involved in their children's education. In the current debate, many have ignored nonchoosing parents. (SLD)

The Hunter Javits Collaborative Project to identify and support mathematics talent of urban students is described. Program components include weekly seminars for students with teacher mentors, a summer institute, teacher professional development, and parent involvement. Characteristics and outcomes for the 45 elementary and high school student…

College students need to experience high expectations, through internal motivation or external encouragement, to be successful learners, and a healthy college or university community expects student participation in and sharing of leadership tasks. Goals for such expectations should be defined and communicated clearly through campus policy and…

The effects of disability, age grouping, and adult involvement on interactions of preschool children with disabilities (n=16) and children without disabilities (n=32) were studied in sessions of free play or adult involvement. Children with disabilities spent more time passively nonengaged. Even when controlling for developmental age, intergroup…

Maintains that psychology courses attract students who are interested in using their knowledge of human behavior in their professional and personal lives. Describes four approaches used in a developmental psychology course to differentiate between experimental and observational research. Discusses implications of the approaches. (CFR)

Examined the effects of parent involvement on child adaptation and growth of autonomy during a home-school transitional year. Found that parent involvement had significant potential for change in children who struggled with problems of attachment and other issues of adaptation, and enhanced the quality of the nursery school experience for the…