Teachers can foster open communication and parental involvement through use of a daily reportcard system for students with academic or behavior problems. Suggestions are provided for: gathering baseline data; identifying areas of concern; designing the report format; selecting reinforcers; conducting student conferences; implementing the system;…

This guide addresses issues of learner persistence, motivation, and retention in adult basic education (ABE). Based on findings from the NCSALL Adult Student Persistence Study, participants engage in an examination of their own interests and experiences with learner motivation and retention and examine strategies of other practitioners. The goal…

This book provides teaching models, classroom organization schemes, and management practices that can quickly improve a teacher's capacity to reach unmotivated and disengaged students. Examples are drawn from elementary, middle, and secondary schools. After Chapter 1 (Part I) introduces the problem and describes the characteristics of at-risk…

The Teachers as Readers Project, originally developed by the American Association of Publishers, helps teachers encourage students to become lifelong readers. Teachers as Readers Book Groups consist of teachers and librarians who meet on a regular basis to read and discuss the same literature--at least four quality children's or adolescents' books…

This book provides research-based, concrete strategies for creating a student-centered curriculum in which every student can learn. It breaks down the Natural Human Learning Process (NHLP) into six stages, providing guidelines and models showing educators how to create learning experiences at each stage of the process for individuals, small…

This book offers strategies to help teachers and curriculum coordinators strengthen student interest through meaningful and purposeful learning. The 15 chapters are: (1) "Introduction: Planning a Connected Curriculum"; (2) "Children, School, and Community"; (3) "On Connections"; (4) "Making Connections: An Interdisciplinary Approach"; (5) "Making…

Successful placement of vocational graduates depends on the actions and motivation of the graduate. Vocational educators must teach students how to (1) broaden their employment potential; (2) locate potential places of employment; (3) secure a job; and (4) keep a job and advance in it. (LRA)

This article argues that challenges in motivating gifted underachievers should be addressed from an integrated systems approach. The design and implementation of specific interventions for these students are described, with a special focus on reward menus and behavior contracts. Suggested target behaviors and individual and class rewards are…

Discusses the benefits of summer internship programs for youths, with a focus on the "Los Angeles Times" program. Highlights the resulting personnel cost reduction and enhanced community reputation. Presents five tips for successful programs: (1) get interns excited; (2) teach technical and personal improvement skills; (3) train…

This article demonstrates how to improve students' learning motivation by means of an attributional dialogue between teachers and students. Students are asked to describe events and to explain to what they attributed success or failure. Dialogue pages of a typically achieving learner and a student with learning disabilities are provided. (Contains…

Describes the Entry-Level Skills Portfolio (ELSP) as a repository to enable students to document and develop their employability skills and to foster their awareness of the occupational relevance of the guidelines developed by the National Task Force on the Preparation and Practice of Health Educators. (SM)

Argues that a whole-language approach can help bring social studies to life for students. Explains that the arrangement of terms into a web or map that shows the terms' interrelationships and is one way of using the whole-language approach. Provides guidelines for thematic instruction and a list of potential themes. (SG)

This collection of suggestions deals with motivating upper-elementary and junior-high age students to read. Teachers are urged to model enjoyment of reading, make available materials that are appealing to the unique interests of their students, and create a warm and caring classroom atmosphere. (JDD)

In preparation for the medical school admission interview, prospective students should be able to explain why they chose medicine as a profession and to relate experiences that confirm their interest, be aware of the economic/ethical atmosphere in which medicine is practiced and its challenges, display good communication skills, and convey…

Presents suggestions to assist elementary teachers in engaging their students in investigating real environments to develop true self-esteem and learn to cope with occasional frustration or negative feedback. One sidebar discusses how much self-esteem is enough. Another sidebar suggests questions to ask before praising a child. (SM)