This report reviews the current research and literature on Out of School Time (OST) programs especially with regard to their effectiveness. It also explores the range of OST programs and activities as employed by the various youth-serving sectors; considers the untapped possibilities of OST programs to meet the needs of young people, including…

The role of contemplative practice in adult education has a long history if one includes traditional monastic education in Asia and the West. Its use in American higher education is, however, more recent and more limited. Nonetheless, on the basis of evidence from surveys and conferences, a significant community of teachers exists at all levels of…

In 2 studies, an expectancy-value framework was applied to investigate effort expended on mathematics homework. In Study 1 (2,712 students in grades 5, 7, and 9; mean age=13.37 years), lower homework effort was found in higher grades. The effects of intrinsic value on homework effort were higher in the older cohorts, whereas the effects of the…

Literacy is a process which dispels and promotes rational thinking and moulds human beings into becoming responsible citizens. The absence of literacy directly and indirectly retards the development of individuals, society, community and the country. For the success of any program, people should be motivated by providing necessary congenial…

This article explores the problem of discussing a spiritual dimension in education within the secular context of western society, and Australian society in particular. It explores the idea that spirituality is relational and proposes an approach to learning that nurtures and gives expression to spirituality in terms of the connectedness students…

The authors present the results of a multiyear collaborative research project that involved a counselor educator, graduate-level school counseling students, and school personnel in defining a new role for counselors in education reform. This collaborative effort was based on an innovative conceptual framework that informs school counselors about…

As part of the restructuring drive toward a developmentally appropriate curriculum, restructuring has begun to be implemented through a nongraded organizational structure. After Kentucky mandated a nongraded structure for primary education, the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation to allow nongraded primary schools. The Tennessee…

Developed to be easy and require minimum preparation time, yet give high-impact results, this book offers tried-and-true teacher-tested book projects for primary grades K-3. The book's topics connect curriculum areas: creative writing, science, social studies, and math. Projects outlined in the book require few materials and can be done at…

For many students, grammar represents a baffling set of capricious rules wielded by "sadistic" English teachers for the sole purpose of making their lives miserable. To combat this misconception and to dispel the mystery and empower students with the ability to use the conventions of standard written English, a series of student…

Based on the belief that schooling is now too often a trivial pursuit or a mechanical exercise, this book argues that the inherent value and substance of learning has been lost and needs to be restored. The book begins by portraying the American education of an earlier part of this century when schools created a coherent, stable, unified culture…

Based on the idea that drama (a medium that children relish and are good at) offers a context and a powerful motivation for learning, this book is intended for the teacher who wants to use drama in the classroom for its own sake or as a tool in other areas of the curriculum. The book looks at the many common concerns teachers have and offers…

Assessment of students' progress and learning is "sine qua non" to effective curricula and instruction. Assessing what students know and can do as well as analyzing their attitudes, behaviors, and interests have become an integral part of planning curricula which are responsive to and supportive of students' educational needs and…

A study examined whether sixth grade students taught formal study skills would obtain significantly higher reading achievement than those not taught these skills. Study skills can be broken down into ten or more skill areas including: study habits, time management, test taking, lecture notetaking, reading comprehension, vocabulary, test anxiety,…

Focusing on strategies for increasing student success in the community college, this monograph profiles winners of the National Council of Instructional Administrators (NCIA) exemplary program competition for 1994. First, background information on the competition is provided, indicating that it considers programs in three categories:…

Suburban high school seniors planning to attend universities, as well as parents, high school guidance counselors, and teachers at both the high school and college levels are the intended audience for this guide. It seeks to provide incoming freshmen with "everything you need to know about the first-year college experience" in a lively and…