Argues that early childhood educators must create partnerships between parents and teachers to facilitate parents' interest and support of their children's education, the most important determinant of success in school. Notes that successful partnerships begin with mutual respect, communication, understanding, cooperation, and provision of varied…

A study examined processes involved in mathematics course selection among Latino students, particularly parent involvement. Data on 11,787 students drawn from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 indicate that parental involvement proved advantageous for making informed curricular decisions for White and upper socioeconomic status…

Introduces the Parent Writing Folder Review assessment strategy for eighth-grade children's writing, whereby parents discuss the student's writing with them and complete a written evaluation. Describes how evaluation of parents' reflections about children's writing found that they indicated growth in children's writing, identified areas for…

Describes the Teaching Enrichment Activities for Minorities (TEAM) project designed to give minority students in Dade County (Florida) elementary schools experience in the type of thinking skills that are required for placement in gifted and advanced programs. (FMW)

Tested a family process model that links family financial resources and parental educational attainment to academic competence during early adolescence on 90 rural African American youths ages 9-12 and their parents. Parental educational attainment was linked with family financial resources and with parental involvement with the adolescent's…

Presented are activities that focus on gathering, using, and interpreting data about fingerprints as a basis for integrating mathematics and science. Patterns, classification, logical reasoning, and mathematical relationships are explored by making graphs, classifying fingerprints, and matching identical fingerprints. A parent-involvement activity…

Four potential protective factors appear to promote resilience in disadvantaged African-American children through facilitating development of school-relevant social competencies. The factors are the following: (1) early education experiences; (2) parental involvement in early schooling; (3) early peer relationships; and (4) culturally compatible…

The types of resilient behaviors that lead to school competence among African-American adolescents are those that build social identity and friends and social support networks. Specific recommendations are given to promote them in the school setting through parent involvement, cultural sensitivity, and small group learning. (SLD)

A telephone survey of 26 principals on their use of Chapter 1 funds for family and community involvement activities found several barriers, including restrictions, lack of information and adequate funds, and fear of change. However, schoolwide planning, new legal flexibility, and district support can make Chapter 1 funds more useful. (JB)

Argues that white, upper-middle-class adolescents are particularly vulnerable to depression, suicide, alcohol/substance abuse, date rape, anxiety, low self-esteem, and eating disorders. Discusses lack of parental involvement and the difficulties wealthy youth have in developing inner resources. Recommends involving students in service projects and…

The involvement of program beneficiaries in a study of the educational problems of homeless children is described. The 3 stakeholder groups were the 9 teachers, 7 shelter staff members, and 20 homeless parents. The equitable participation of the parents was an achieved goal that enhanced evaluation findings' validity. (SLD)

Describes factors that hold promise for recruiting and retaining minority students in gifted education programs, including having equitable, culturally sensitive screening and identification instruments and procedures; providing minority students with a quality education; addressing problems that interfere with minority students' achievement; and…

Chronic disparities exist between the performance of minority and nonminority students on high-stakes standardized tests. Similar disparities exist on college admission. The College Board's Equity 2000 Project, implemented in 1990, gathered information on closing the gaps. Seven lessons learned from Equity 2000 emphasize the importance of such…

The City Montessori School, a private, nonprofit school in Luchnow, India, provides an exemplary education for K-12 students by focusing on both academic excellence and children's emotional and spiritual well-being. Four building blocks (universal values, excellence, global understanding, and service) are guiding principles for educating the whole…

Seven articles offer ideas for teaching the arts. Topics include strategies for teaching "Romeo and Juliet," art projects geared to the needs of middle school students, a music listening club that involves parents, tips to help students write better, publishing student authors' work, an art project for at-risk students, and easing…