Recommends that teachers using a personalized literature-based reading program send a letter to parents detailing the expectations and responsibilities the teachers have for their students and the role parents play in the reading lives of children. Suggests ideas to be included in such a letter. (SR)

Utilizes self-report questionnaires to assess the impact of employment status and a nonspousal partner on the well-being of 148 single mothers of children with developmental disabilities. Although generally multiple roles were associated with greater well-being, the quality of the roles was more predictive. (Author/MKA)

Comprehensive support was provided to urban, first-time adolescent mothers in a prospective research project designed to reduce repeat pregnancy and school dropout rates. Home visits, parenting classes, school advocacy, and case-management services were provided. Intervention (n=34) and control (n=29) groups were followed to evaluate the…

Draws on "Getting Men Involved," by James Levine, to discuss the benefits of male involvement with young children, stereotypes related to child care and female abilities and responsibilities, ways to recruit and retain men in their children's preschools, and hidden fears and resistance that impede male involvement. (SV)

Examines the role of parents as a significant social environment for children in transition to adolescence. Differentiates four groups according to perceived parental environment: children with conflict parents, with control parents, with partner parents, and with "easy-going" parents. Explores the familial contexts of these groups and…

To examine the perceptions of families in the early childhood special education literature, four popular journals were reviewed, and 93 1996-1997 articles were identified for further study. Results found a lack of emphasis on the family and the family's role in the delivery of early intervention services. (Contains references.) (CR)

A case study of a parent with an intellectually gifted child illustrates the five categories of influence on parents' conceptions of giftedness: the parents' value systems, their roles as parents, their involvement with the school system, their families of origin, and their understanding of their own giftedness. (Contains references.) (CR)

This article discusses the concept of professional/parent partnerships and the legal, attitudinal, and logistical barriers to providing an appropriate education for many gifted learners. A parent describes her role as an instructional partner in the development of an individualized program for her gifted child. (Contains references.) (CR)

Summarizes research relating to young adolescent's transitions into high school. Notes studies suggesting it is time for educators to reemphasize articulation as a function of middle level education to assist these transitions. (JPB)

Presents suggestions and initiatives that day-care centers can use to help overcome the myth that men are not as well suited as women to care for infants and children. Centers need to actively recruit male staff and fully involve fathers in center activities. (MDM)

The Family Support Services program of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District in Michigan encourages active collaboration between parents of children with special needs and professionals. This article addresses the history and philosophy of parent involvement; a district survey of family needs which identified information as the highest ranked…

Studied number use in language by preschool children and their mothers during cooking experiences. Found that although children used a variety of number words, mothers made greater use of number words than did children. Strong relationship between reciprocal numeracy episodes (between mother and child) and child's number use suggests that adult…

Conceptualizes parent development as an outcome of parent education. Describes implementation of a cognitive theory-based educational design for facilitating parent development in four parent education sites. Implications of focusing parent education on complex parent development outcomes are discussed. (SNR)

Evaluates the effectiveness of a parent-child drug education program through a study of 1,447 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-grade students and 2,036 of their parents. Results indicate the program produced changes in the responses of children and their parents to questions concerning attitudes, use, perceptions of use, and intended use of drugs. (KW)

A study observed mother-child interactions of eight children with Down syndrome and eight typical preschoolers in free play and mealtime settings. Mothers of children with Down syndrome used more teacher and helper behaviors and less positive verbalizations. Children with Down syndrome showed higher frequency of eye gazes during mealtime.…