One of the most respected and widely used autism interventions, Pivotal Response Treatment uses natural learning opportunities to modify key behaviors in children--leading to widespread positive effects on communication, behavior, and social skills. Now the pioneering experts behind PRT have created a comprehensive modern guide to this…

In today's high-tech world, math and science matter. Of the 10 fastest growing occupations, eight are science, math or technology-related. Whatever a child wants to do--join the military, join the workforce, or go on to college--math and science skills will be important. Become part of the equation to help one's child succeed now and in the…

While research shows that children's love of learning declines steadily from grades 3-9, this article explains how to motivate students by meaningfully connecting school to the real world, focusing on connecting science to the natural word, social studies to current events, literature to real-life experiences, and math applications to daily life.…

The article is designed to help parents and teachers understand the nature and causes of underachievement and to show them how to work more effectively with underachieving gifted students. Guidelines focus on ways to share problem solving. (Author/CL)

This guide describes an instructional technique, Power Card Strategy, that provides a visual aid to assist students with Asperger syndrome and autism in making sense of social situations, routines, the meaning of language, and the hidden curriculum of the classroom. Power Card Strategy makes use of the intense special interests characteristic of…

Suggestions are presented for parents who wish to build reading habits in their young children. Several books for beginning readers, first-grade readers, and second-grade readers are suggested. (CB)

Discusses how parents can get their children to volunteer for community services, examining how volunteerism benefits children, how to choose a volunteer activity, and how to get children involved (e.g., having the parents serve as role models). Two sidebars focus on whether fund-raising teaches children about giving and how service-learning…

Discusses the importance of considering individual students' learning styles when encouraging them to practice their musical instruments at home on a regular basis, focusing on how to accommodate learning style preferences related to: light; time of day; persistence; nutritional intake; furniture design; practicing in pairs or small groups;…

Suggestions are provided for parents of ways in which they can use the television to encourage and improve their child's reading. Activities include: discussing television characters; watching television specials geared for the child's age; and researching favorite television stars. (CB)

Parents play a critical role in the development of children's writing skills. Parents can help young students become writers by understanding how writing evolves, providing students with many opportunities for writing, modeling writing for the students, and providing a variety of materials for writing at home. (SM)

Praise is better than punishment as a motivator for children, but both are manipulative and often backfire. Real encouragement comes in the form of honest, caring concern without strings attached. The paper presents examples of how to encourage children successfully. (SM)

This brochure for parents of gifted adolescents discusses strategies to use to support the interests of their children and how to recognize and extend their children's talents. Parents are urged to: (1) increase their knowledge about the child's area of interest; (2) discuss the child's present and future degree of involvement; (3) encourage the…

A positive, practical approach to parent tutoring of children is presented in this booklet. Suggestions for how to listen and react to one's child, how to use associations to promote easy learning, and how to reinforce positive behavior and encourage independence are provided. Each chapter sets out a step-by-step system. An easy collaborative…

Noting that many students do just enough schoolwork to get by and fail to see the connection between learning in school and success in adult life, this brochure encourages parents to explain the benefits of studying hard to their children. The brochure contains facts parents can use to explain the benefits to their children and suggests things…

This booklet presents parents with 10 "easy and fun" tips for helping their children be motivated to learn, value learning, and achieve his or her best. The 10 tips in the booklet are: be a model of curiosity; encourage your child's natural curiosity; praise and reward efforts to learn; solve real problems; lay out the steps to success; show…