In the summer of 1989, Summer Home Learning Packets in mathematics and language arts were distributed to seventh and eighth graders at Calverton Middle School (Maryland). The packets contained review exercises for students to complete with the help of their parents. In the first of the two studies reported in this document, "Reactions of…

The Baltimore School and Family Connections Project is a collaborative effort to design comprehensive partnership programs and evaluate their results. This case study explores one school's efforts to involve middle-grades students and their families in learning activities at home during the summer break. Marginal students who worked on the home…

A literature review was conducted in an effort to locate programs that could improve opportunities for learning for middle graders, and particularly educationally disadvantaged middle graders. Of the more than 200 programs that were reviewed, about 80 were identified as having promising components for middle grades educators. Section I discusses…

Designed to help teachers promote a teacher-parent partnership process, this manual describes the Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork (TIPS) program in language arts, science, and health. The manual covers the TIPS Interactive Homework Process, focusing on overcoming obstacles, TIPS activities, the process of informing parents, and students'…