The purpose of this article is to share a family literacy activity geared particularly for the K-6 level in which parents share with teachers valuable knowledge about their children's cultural backgrounds. This multicultural bookmaking activity, a family literacy approach, builds critical cultural understandings between parents, teachers, and…

It can be thrilling when parents receive a letter notifying them their child is eligible for the school's gifted program. However the academic and talent development that a child receives at school should also be complemented by social and emotional support at home. There are many books that can help provide the information a parent needs to…

In an introductory middle grades course, teacher candidates synthesize and apply the concepts from key middle level documents through their coursework. Along with a popular middle grades text (Brown & Knowles, 2014), teacher candidates read "This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents" (National Middle School Association,…

Living Book--Augmenting Reading for Life, a three-year EU-funded Erasmus + project (September 2016-August 2019), exploited the affordances of augmented reality (AR) and other emerging technologies in order to address the underachievement of European youth in reading skills. The program developed an innovative approach that empowers teachers from…

This study examines if teachers can learn to be more culturally relevant in their classrooms by reading culturally relevant literature and then engaging in the practice of family visits. The study employed a basic qualitative design with data sources such as transcripts of discussions and visits, interviews, and participant journals. Results show…

In today's global society, it is important for future teacher educators to identify and apply different types of dispositions, attitudes, and skills in order to provide full participation and support to all types of families. Partnerships with families having a child with a disability calls for teacher educators of the general and special…

Existing literature acknowledges the potential variances between home and school in the values, priorities, aspirations, and practices surrounding literacy. Some researchers have approached this dilemma by offering programs to educate parents in ways of the school. Other researchers suggest that schools need to be more inclusive of home practices…

The effects of teacher learning that transitions into pedagogical knowledge and practice remains an under-investigated area in the literature. This longitudinal study extended one teacher's professional learning into her inner-city secondary school, where she created a mother-daughter after-school book club that began when 12 Black girls,…

Argues that reading is a useful tool in successful living as well as a pleasure in itself and discusses the importance of making books accessible to children and teaching them how to select appropriate reading materials. (CHC)

Provides "adoption awareness" for early childhood educators and offers practical suggestions for working with adoptive parents and their children. Includes a list of adoption resources and consultants, along with a collection of suggested adoption books for young children. (Author/EV)

Offers numerous suggestions for dealing with and meeting needs of reluctant readers. Discusses the issue of parental concern over children reading a wide selection of books for young adults. Includes a letter to parents both informing them of the wide reading expected of their children and requesting their permission to sign out books from the…

Educators must respect parents' rights to protect their children from harmful books, but they must also see that one individual or group does not censor valuable books from every child. The paper discusses recent increases in censorship, presenting suggestions for making the best defense and offense when handling book complaints. (SM)

Explains that there are two forms of braille in existence, literary and music, and maintains that music educators can help blind students learn to read music through the use of braille. Provides resources for teaching blind music students, including college-bound musicians, from parents and colleagues to recorded music, publications, and…

This book is intended for all who touch the lives of children within childcare settings and the lower grades in elementary schools, whether that be physical educators, classroom teachers, or daycare specialists who are searching for innovative "use-it-today" ideas for teaching young children. Teacher trainers in physical education will find…

Describes the ensuing conflict when the book "Daddy's Roommate" was included as part of the preschool anti-bias curriculum. Discusses parent boycott, letters to parents, board discussions, and formation of a committee to propose solutions. Describes the voting plan based on position statements on both sides of the issue and how creating…