Are you a graduate student in an applied psychology, mental health, or education program? Are you learning to apply your field's theories and methods in practice while anticipating conducting a final research or scholarly project? Or are you a faculty member advising, mentoring, and chairing dissertations or theses? This guide is for you.…

Addresses teachers' feelings of dismay, perhaps even disgust with the work of their students. Concludes that how educators talk about students reveals what they think about themselves as teachers; and how they think about themselves as teachers reveals how they think about higher education and its role in enacting democracy. (SG)

Solving school problems and making policy decisions require that we anticipate how people will feel about an issue or how they will behave. School leaders must understand the values, attitudes, and beliefs brought to different situations. "The School Leader's Guide to Understanding Attitude and Influencing Behavior" makes it possible for educators…

Common mistakes made in campus programing to meet the needs of a multicultural college community are reviewed, and strategies for more effective programing are presented. Suggestions include promoting diverse board membership, collaboration or cosponsoring, monitoring program inclusivity, discussing cultural sensitivity with performers, and…

Research shows clearly that children are more likely to succeed in learning when their families actively support them. When family members read with their children, talk with their teachers, participate in school or other learning activities and help them with homework, they give children a tremendous advantage. Home work is important because it…

Three types of homework assignments are commmon in schools in the United States: practice, preparation, and extension. To be effective, practice exercises must be highly individualized and based on the progress of each student. Preparation normally refers to reading assignments given prior to class meetings. Homework of this sort should be…

This book is designed for parents who have trouble understanding their school-aged children's grades, report cards, and test scores. It helps them make sense of school reports and offers resources to open communications between parents and teachers. The seven chapters focus on: (1) "Getting Started" (e.g., what grading and reporting mean, whether…

Examines the impact of a pilot project in which undergraduates at Roane State Community College e-mailed drafts of essays to graduate students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock who returned the drafts through e-mail with comments. Finds that students felt the experience was helpful. Discusses benefits of collaboration between two- and…

Part of a collection of papers commissioned by Foundations (a project designed to determine the career development needs of deaf postsecondary students), the paper reviews research on student motivation. The first section addresses research on normally hearing students in classrooms with different motivational orientations. Advantages and…

This information brief presents views on quality education from two individuals with disabilities and a parent of a student with a disability. Amanda Dahloff, Kelly Socha, and Amy Pleet, all experienced in the transition process, offer diverse views on how educational systems can best serve students with disabilities. Key recommendations include:…

Provides examples of situations in which day-care teachers must balance the needs of students, parents, staff, and supervisors, pointing out how a person's perspective can shape his or her view of a situation. Notes that teachers need to examine situations from the point of view of parents, students, and supervisors to do their job effectively.…

Examines ways in which a principal of a racially and ethnically diverse school improved harmony and respect through listening to students' opinions. Reviews how to conduct a student survey and student town meetings for the exchange of ideas. Honest dialogue is essential to any effort to improve student relations. (SLD)

This collection of 15 essays is designed to help improve college instruction through reflection that results in better practice, to make teaching more student-centered, and to further a more connected view of teaching and learning. It includes: (1) "Why Scholarship Is the Bedrock of Good Teaching" (Maryellen Weimer); (2) "Teaching and Today's…

In parents' quest to keep children "well-rounded" with out-of-school activities, they leave little time for homework and other activities considered by many to be important for their education. However, those parents who advocate for reduced homework loads, stress-free schoolwork, and an increase in extracurricular activities may actually be doing…

Creating a writing workshop atmosphere using computers in the English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom improves the opportunities for integrating all language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The computer also represents a new way of learning, emphasizing students' problem solving strategies and learning processes. Teachers…