In Hawaii, state agencies and foundations are poised to support readiness efforts to improve educational outcomes for children. Developing a shared understanding of the construct of readiness is key to these efforts. The purposes of this research were to (a) discover the perceptions and beliefs held by Hawaii parents, teachers and administrators…

Jeb Bush campaigned for Governor on a clear and bracing set of education reforms in 1998. Having won office, he immediately pursued a dual track strategy of education reform: standards and accountability for public schools, choice options for dissatisfied parents. Florida lawmakers followed these reforms with additional measures, including…

This practicum was designed to improve development of individualized education plans (IEPs) of mainstreamed students with disabilities in one junior high school, through applied strategies to increase the active involvement of regular classroom teachers, parents, and students in the decision-making process and IEP development. Interventions with…

An anti-bias curriculum focuses not only on the richness of various cultures, but also on seeing cultures as differing responses to common human needs--for food, shelter, fellowship, governance, and other necessities. Thus, cultures and peoples are not superior or inferior, just different. The anti-bias curriculum presented in this book has the…

The nature of the relationships among contemporary family variables and school achievement is examined in this collection of articles. Divided into two parts, the collection examines related processes and issues. In the first part, the chapters and authors are: (1) "The Family-School Relationships Model" (Bruce A. Ryan and Gerald R.…

This paper discusses the origin and philosophy of the whole language movement, focusing on the learning theory, language attitudes, language acquisition, and reading processes employed by the approach. The roles of teachers, learners, parents, and student evaluation in the whole language approach are then examined. The paper then addresses how…

Five papers in diverse areas of linguistics in education are presented. "Second Language Learning through Interaction: Multiple Perspectives" (Teresa Pica) looks at the variety of theoretical approaches to interaction in second language learning, and how an interactionist perspective lends weight to a number of theories.…

Computers and online services are becoming a part of children's lives. This guide is designed to introduce parents to the Information Superhighway and to parenting in a world of computers and new forms of media. Prepared by the Children's Partnership, with assistance from the National PTA and the National Urban League, this guide provides tools…

Almost every teacher and parent encounters children with behavior problems. Social changes, including an increasingly violent and information-based society, affect ways in which children view and function in the world. Teachers and parents need to have greater understanding and skill in implementing discipline strategies. This guide presents…

This issue of the newsletter "Transition" focuses on young families and the problems they face. The newsletter contains book reviews, descriptions of upcoming events, and articles covering various aspects of young families. Articles are: (1) "Taking the Plunge" (Deidre Yukich), focusing on one woman's family planning decisions;…

Intended for adoptive parents and adoption practitioners and intermediaries, this book uses the metaphor of space exploration to provide practical strategies for meeting the adopted infant's needs and smoothing the transition. Chapter 1, "Mission: To Explore New Worlds," discusses adoptive and birth parent preparation, loss issues, and society's…

This book explores issues related to the links between families and schools and how they affect children's educational achievement, and is organized as follows: Part 1, titled "Families and Schools: How Can They Work Together To Promote Children's School Success?" contains the following chapters: chapter 1, "Family Involvement in…

A construct labeled "self-silencing" or "loss of voice" as an aspect of female social development is emerging in current literature, and it is postulated that suppression of expression prescribes a more passive and muted role for women and lies at the root of depression in women. This study was a longitudinal project examining earlier parenting…

Often, parents walk into their children's schools and feel as if they don't have a place to "hang their hats." This guide argues that districts should establish a school family center as a focus of activity and learning for parents, school supporters, and children. The goal of the family center is to provide an avenue for participation…

This book, designed for advanced courses on parent-child relationships, examines scientific evidence concerning parents' effect on children's development. Chapter 1, "The Development of Child-Rearing Research: From Mere Beliefs to a More Dynamic Perspective," discusses the beginnings of and current trends in child rearing research and…