This digest, in question and answer format, summarizes what is known about effective ways to provide fully educational services for gifted students in the regular classroom. The following questions are addressed: What are the steps to full service? (educators need to plan environments in which all students can fully develop their abilities and…

This digest summarizes what is known about developing desired educational outcomes and anticipated time frames in specialized programs for students who are gifted. Learner outcomes are defined and characteristics of appropriate ones outlined. Next, the importance of identifying specific learner goals and outcome indicators is explained with…

This guide is designed to provide college students with an overview of the internship experience, as well as tips for a successful internship. Part 1 discusses the transition from student to professional and the role that an internship can play in professional and career development. It defines the nature and types of internships available,…

This study evaluates a school district's guidance and counseling program. The report is divided into five sections: (1) Context Evaluation; (2) Input Evaluation; (3) Process Evaluation; (4) Product Evaluation; and (5) Future Planning. The first section discusses the history of the program, including past needs, as well as program policies,…

The portfolio used in liberal arts teacher education encourages student reflection in three important ways symbolized by the sonnet form, by mirror, and by map. A sonnet must conform to a set of rules but the discipline of these rules offers a measure of freedom. In the same way, the work of portfolio development within established constraints…

This research brief highlights data from surveys of college administrators on the status of assessment policies and practices. The surveys addressed approaches to assessment, external mandates prompting assessment activity, skills or outcomes that are being assessed, assessment methods and procedures, and use of assessment results. The surveys…

This guide presents an advisory program for middle schools. The program is designed for groups of 10 to 15 students meeting twice a week; the advisors should be adults from within the school (teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, etc.). The program has four goals: (1) to promote students' sense of belonging within the school; (2) to…

The 31 papers in this book ar grouped into 5 sections, of which the first consists of an introductory essay by A. Ciofalo, "What Every Professor and Worksite Supervisor Should Know about Internships." Section 2, on learning from experience, contains "Perspectives on Learning in Internships" (D. T. Moore); "Integrating the Traditions of…

This volume contains the text of six speeches selected from approximately 125 plenary talks that have been given over the past few years at more than 40 Freshman Year Experience Conferences by leading educators concerned about improving the first year undergraduate experience. In the first speech, "The Undergraduate Experience: Critical…

Two national studies have recently confirmed that specific kinds of educational experiences provided for children by both parents and teachers, from preschool through high school, can make a significant difference in their reading ability as young adults. Both studies analyzed data gathered from 3,959 high school students in 24 school districts…

Institutional solutions to basic questions regarding education cannot be effective, as institutional solutions to problems apply to classes of people, not to individuals. The stories of selves cannot be nurtured by institutions whose purposes are to use people to achieve "greater" ends such as international economic competitiveness. Educational…

This summer institute was specifically designed to give the Wai'anae community in Hawaii a chance to share ideas that would strengthen the support for all of their youth. It also gave them a chance to learn about resiliency, which is defined as "a person's capacity to survive through life's difficulties." Resiliency can be fostered in youth by…

An analysis of the difficulties encountered during the middle-school years in America and what can be done to elevate the level of middle schoolers' academic achievement is provided. The report illustrates what students should be expected to know and to do when they complete eighth grade. It details the consequences of students not being ready for…

Students encounter numerous volatile situations throughout their school days. These videotapes and the accompanying teacher's manual and student handouts provide ways in which students can creatively assess and resolve these conflicts. The videotapes are designed for the whole school community: students and parents, teaching and non-teaching…

Schools that trust their students, and schools that value, respect, and know their students are schools that foster resiliency for their students. More than any other single factor, the lack of a deeply held belief in every child's ability leads to underachieving students. Seven schools that are working to remove roadblocks to student success are…