Research has demonstrated that parent involvement has many beneficial effects for students. This action research project designed and implemented a program to raise the academic achievement of second-grade students by increasing parent involvement. The students attended two second-grade classrooms in a west-central Illinois school. The problem of…

This practicum was designed and implemented to increase the homework completion rate of sixth graders in English classes. Objectives were formulated to reflect a statistical increase in homework completion rate by means of calculation and analysis of a computerized gradebook. A review of the literature revealed several viable strategies to…

In the context of a regular academic program, the Child Development Project (CDP) helps teachers and parents promote characteristics such as helpfulness and responsibility in children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The CDP program contains five major elements: (1) cooperative activities; (2) helping activities; (3) the highlighting of…

This guide for teachers explores the dynamics of successful parent involvement with their children's education. The guide is centered on 10 keys to family involvement: (1) creating a new definition of parent that includes alternative caregivers; (2) moving toward "family involvement" rather than just parent involvement; (3) devising new…

This document contains English and Spanish versions of six one-page reports for parents. Each brief provides background, suggestions, and sources of further information on educational and child-rearing topics of common interest to parents. Titles are: "The Best and Worst of Times: Support Groups Help" ("Los tiempos mejores y peores: Los grupos…

This report shows that, in low-income Mexican-American and European-American families, children's everyday learning activities at home and aspirations of parents for their children's future are key elements in home-school linkages. Two models of home-school linkages are reviewed: the cultural match/mismatch model and the two-way partnership…

More than 150 research studies were reviewed to develop this set of suggestions for teachers interested in effective history instruction. The suggestions are organized into four categories: (1) Teacher perceptions and behavior; (2) Student activities and cooperative learning; (3) Homework; and (4) Effective use of textbooks. A brief bibliography…

This study examines differences in the academic achievement of Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Central/South Americans, and the relationship of those differences to the time spent on homework, educational-occupational aspirations, and background. The following parental factors are examined: (1) the press for English; (2) the press for independence; (3)…

Noting the lack of a comprehensive body of knowledge about Asian American educational achievement and attainment, this document examines recent national data in order to develop an empirical profile of the educational status of Asian American secondary and postsecondary students. According to the data, higher proportions of Asian Americans than of…

Noting that there exists little systematic and conclusive research on after-school education to guide the development of practices in this emerging field, this book contributes to the definition of after-school education by focusing on three essential aspects of such programming: (1) bridging school to after-school (2) homework, or extended…

This study examined six Beacon centers, which are community centers located in public school buildings that offer a range of activities and services to participants of all ages, before and after school, in the evenings, and on weekends. Individual Beacons are managed by community-based organizations. The study examined how the Beacons provided…

This handbook is intended to be a self-study guide to the effective use of nine specific instructional strategies proven to improve student achievement. The strategies are: (1) identifying similarities and differences (comparing, classifying, creating metaphors, and creating analogies); (2) summarizing and note taking; (3) reinforcing effort and…

Based on a review of educational research and informal teacher inquiry suggesting that students could benefit from instruction to improve organizational skills, this action research project examined the effects of teaching selected organizational skills on the study habits and achievement of third and ninth graders. Participating in the study were…

Discussed is the influence of mathematics textbooks on the sequence and amount of mathematics taught in middle grades. An alternative method of organizing mathematics instruction is proposed. The issue of homework is addressed. (KR)

Reports results of a survey of British children ages 7 to 15 that examined time spent watching television, listening to music, reading, and playing outdoors; attitudes and stereotypes regarding these activities; and frequency and opinions of doing homework with the television on. Correlations of various behaviors and perceptions are presented.…