Summarizes the work of seven National Governors' Association task forces (on teaching, leadership, parent involvement and choice, readiness, technology, school facilities, and college quality) and the "action agenda" proposed. The governors' recent report is unique for its authorship, the tough issues tackled, and its follow-up plan.…

Karal describes the psychodynamics by which children learn to fear and distrust long-term commitments. Vaines proposes a conceptualization of the home economist as transforming actor. LeBow addresses methods of treating obese youth. Fewster and Kuhonta offer insights on communicating with Third World rural women. (SK)

Describes the Amigos Program at Maynard School, Cambridge, MA, a two-way bilingual education program. Success of the program and efforts at equal education result from teamwork between desegregation and bilingual education officers and the following elements: (1) site; (2) funding; (3) evaluation; (4) racial balance; and (5) parent support. (PS)

Affective reading instruction teaches mildly handicapped children to read by improving their attitudes toward reading through oral and silent reading of children's literature. The paper outlines steps involved in program implementation, reading activities used in conjunction with skill training, parent involvement, use of extrinsic rewards,…

The lawyer representing "Concerned Women for America" discusses the real issues in the Tennessee Textbook Case, as opposed to the apparent issues. (NKA)

Evaluates the experience of participating in an Early Literacy Inservice Course (ELIC) in Australia two years after the course. Discusses early problems with scheduling and parent expectations, and shows how reading and writing instruction adapted to the problems while maintaining the process writing approach. (SKC)

The difficulties experienced by deaf parents' hearing children (n=10) as they approached puberty were studied and compensatory education programs sought for them through residential and regular schools. The children exhibited conversational difficulties, memory problems, reasoning difficulties, and poor language comprehension. Children's…

Analysis of data collected from mothers of 162 six year olds determines that the number of adult male relatives who took the child on outings away from home was positively related to the child's report card score. This effect, however, was restricted to one-parent (mother-only) boys, who are the most at-risk group in the sample. (Author/BJV)

Approximately 100 national spelling bee finalists and their parents were surveyed concerning their early literacy experiences and spelling practices. The fourth-eighth grade spellers showed an early interest in language activities; passed through developmental spelling stages earlier than average; and mastered words via visual memory strategies,…

Presents the findings of a study done in Australia which sought to determine which factors influence students to take mathematics courses in the 12th grade. Results suggested that males were more likely to take math than females, and positive attitudes about math in early school years directly influenced participation in math at grade 12. (TW)

Urges education systems and schools to make special efforts to inform and work with parents in the establishment of a literacy assessment program so that children with special needs in literacy could receive as much attention as those who achieve. (NKA)

Describes study of 837 campers aged 8-13 at 1 day and 5 residential camps, 546 parents, and 274 counselors to document effect of camp experiences on group-living/interpersonal skills, prosocial outlook, outdoor living skills, personal enjoyment, and environmental appreciation/understanding. Three figures show survey results, four photographs of…

Notes the increasing availability of prekindergarten programs for four-year-olds and describes a program that groups four- and five-year-olds together. Covers the program's instructional goals; reasons for using multi-aged grouping, cooperative teaching, and structured planning time; curriculum; interaction with parents; and dependence on the…

Describes the Hartford (Connecticut) Teenage Parents Program, an alternative school for pregnant girls. The program offers parenting courses and infant day care for students and teaches communication techniques, decision-making skills, child development, child health, nutrition, and concepts of discipline. Staff qualifications are also discussed.…

Techniques for making geography more relevant to elementary students are discussed. For example, the abstract ideas of latitude and longitude can be taught by having students "live" a grid system, i.e., evenly spaced letters and numerals posted on the classroom walls. An interdisciplinary approach is needed. (RM)