The author of this article asks: What is readiness for kindergarten? How do we know when a child is ready? Unfortunately, as with many topics in education reform and improvement, policy makers ignore the complex questions about readiness and instead focus narrowly on select variables. The focus for kindergarten readiness is on select literacy and…

This article presents the author's talk, entitled "Engaging with Parents," which was delivered as the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Distinguished Lecture at the NASP 2010 Annual Convention on March 4, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. At the time of this talk, the author believes education and psychology are involved in three…

Families can help prevent violence through nurturing empathy in their children. This article provides the framework for supporting families in becoming active in their children's development of empathy. Strategies are provided that help parents and family implement empathy development.

Discusses "partnerships" in child protection as they relate to the families of children subject to these services. Suggests that parents are ignored or deliberately excluded from the process, leading to "learned helplessness." Claims that good intentions of professionals are necessary but insufficient for partnership, which can…

Discusses the educative role of the family in pre-industrial England focusing specifically the role of the mother. Provides quotes from diaries and other contemporary sources of information to document the points being made. (GEA)

This paper addresses five issues in consideration of family contributions to teachers' work and students' success. The five issues include change, partnerships, students' learning, value systems, and international networking. A review of studies and programs illustrates implications for policy and practice for teachers' professional development.…

The author presents several factors which pertain to state involvement in family life. Among these factors are social diversity, social agency usurpation of family roles, the need for parent and family involvement in child rearing, conducting needs assessment, conducting hearings prior to policy decisions, and making social services relevant. (DB)

Argues that it has not been fashionable to value literacy stories from parents as a source of knowledge for interpreting the home literacy environment. Compares teacher descriptions of several at-risk children to their parents' literacy stories. Concludes that understanding multiple home literacy environments can help teachers think critically…

Examines reasons behind very low attendance of fathers at primary level family literacy events in Great Britain. Discusses rapid social and demographic changes, the sex- segregated power structure in education, the gendered nature of parental involvement in education, and the nature of family literacy events. Concludes that the environment of…

Studied the interactions, goals, and purposes of four mothers as they shared two narrative and two expository texts with their preschoolers. Results suggest that there is no one path to becoming literate, nor one single "correct" model of development. Literacy learning is an activity that involves the collaboration of parents and…

Media literacy is the topic of this second white paper presented by Cable in the Classroom. Six different contributions were invited which give a variety of perspectives and recommendations to consider. A dialogue around the topic, and the paper itself, were also created; 29 educators (list of participants provided at the end of the document) were…

Examined the reasons parents read to their children using interviews from 25 Brisbane parents. Reasons given for reading aloud to their children were categorized under the following five main headings: pleasure for the child, functionality, good start at school, closeness, and quiet time. Concludes with a discussion of the practical implications…

Explores the proposition that young children need to discover and actively participate in adults' theories of childhood. Reveals ways in which children collaborate in and sometimes contest the need to display precompetent identities, and briefly discusses the consequences, for enculturation in general and for schoolwork in particular, of failing…

Business, community, and religious leaders are being urged to join families in providing greater support and participation in solving pressing problems in American education. Ways businesses can become more family friendly include offering flextime or job sharing to allow parents more flexibility with their children and building school-business…

Proposes the home-school connection as a key solution to boost science, mathematics, and technology programs in schools. Suggests that professionals in education must find ways to make connections between school learning and children's learning outside school. Proposes appropriate strategies such as science and mathematics backpacks, minimuseums,…