Two articles focus on helping primary level students grow. One article on the school-home connection describes interactive math homework assignments that involve parents; the other discusses how teachers can help fearful children adjust to school, noting what children fear and offering seven steps to help overly fearful children. (SM)

Teachers and parents, working together, can help students reach their potential. They must set realistic, achievable goals and realize that no one makes progress all the time. The paper discusses what to do when a child underachieves and how teachers can prepare parents to deal with a student's poor grades. (SM)

Intended for parent educators, this facilitator's guide outlines a parent workshop on helping children with homework. The guide first presents a framework for both a 1-hour and 2-hour workshop, based on a companion video. The remainder of the guide corresponds to the video, presenting suggestions for discussion prior to and after viewing the…

Providing a practical look at the role of spelling in the overall language arts curriculum, this book helps those who interact regularly with young children understand how learning to spell is part of the broader fabric of learning to write in whole language classrooms. After an introduction, chapter 1 provides opportunities to explore how…

Providing a low-key, nonthreatening way for teachers and parents to build partnerships for kids, this book presents short, concrete activities in English and Spanish to foster communication between teachers and parents and between parents and children. While the activities in the book are designed for grade 2, none of the activities have…

Sharing both collective and individual experiences and insights about whole language, teaching, and educational change, this book explains whole language instruction and its implementation on a school-wide basis. Each chapter moves from research to theory, and from theory to application in classrooms that actually exist. The book explains why…

This compilation of essays and resources focuses on acceptance of children with disabilities and cooperation between parents and early intervention specialists. The compilation includes the following items written by Jan Spiegle-Mariska (sometimes cited as Jan Mariska): "Building Effective Parent/Professional Partnerships"; "What…

This guide offers suggestions for cooperation between the school or child care center and the home, and provides guidance to parents for their participation in centers and schools. It describes the necessary steps in planning for varied parent involvement and includes examples of parent involvement activities. Topics addressed in planning the…

Based on the concept that teachers can help students become better learners, mastery learning involves the identification of specific segments of learning and then mastery of them by individual students. Mastery learning provides a structure for teaching that includes class instruction followed by small group work. It is a group-based approach to…

The manual presents intervention strategies designed by Project MEDIA (Middle and Elementary Direct Instruction Alternatives) to aid the transition of both nonhandicapped and mainstreamed handicapped students from elementary (K-5) to middle (6-8) school. The manual is divided into six sections with topics of specific problem areas alphabetized…

This paper provides a brief review of the issues regarding families in early intervention programs for handicapped children and proposes the assessment of family needs as a first step in designing family-focused interventions. While traditional approaches to early intervention tend to be exclusively child-focused, professionals are encouraged to…

Case study research of adult lifelong readers' key experiences reveals that some of the crucial events resulting in love of reading took place prior to formal literature instruction. Results of interviews with about 60 adult readers of all ages--some of whom choose to read fiction, some of whom do not--indicate reasons readers give for their…

This book contains suggestions from 45 educators on what every teacher should know. It includes: "From Start to Finish: A Strategic Plan" (e.g., recognizing problems, strategic planning, planning lessons, and managing time); "Classroom Management" (e.g., designing a creative learning environment, empowering students, maintaining discipline, and…

This book was developed for two reasons: to show teachers, administrators, and parents how to have a successful year-long writing program; and to demonstrate that a valuable literacy tool is not expensive when it utilizes reading-readiness materials already in use. Intended primarily for K-1 teachers, the book contends that students can be…

This book teaches educators how to expand their teaching abilities, using positive language to get positive results. The book helps teachers focus students on solving problems, not making excuses. Students are taught to develop a solutioning mindset and empowered to create their own successes. Chapter 1, "Pack Your Bags," introduces the…