As part of a series exploring effective strategies for school improvement and dropout prevention, this monograph focuses on early childhood education and reading/writing programs, and compiles strategies to help families engage in meaningful literacy activities. The monograph describes and defines family literacy, provides a research basis for…

This encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference work addressed to those interested in human development from birth through adolescence, including students of child development, teachers, health care providers, child psychologists, family counselors, education professionals, academics, and parents. Signed entries in the encyclopedia were prepared by…

A doctoral dissertation describes the needs, attitudes, and characteristics of 82 bilingual native speakers of Spanish in Arizona, most community college students, concerning their Spanish language education. Data were gathered using a survey, 14 interviews, observation in classroom and home environments, and four case studies. Results indicate…

Changing economic realities, coupled with children's access to information about the adult world, have drastically changed the social construction of childhood. Noting that education takes place in a variety of social sites including but not limited to school, this book examines the influence of commercial concerns on this cultural pedagogy and…

This study examined the effects of social class background on children's oral language development. The study focused on children's oral vocabulary knowledge because such knowledge provides a good summary of language skills, is easily measured, and is very consequential for later schooling success. Using a large national data set, the study…

Noting that the continuing need for services that support families is often met by home visiting, this guidebook compiles personal stories, relevant research, and practical strategies to allow social workers, educators, and other early childhood professionals as well as those who train home visitors to better understand the complex nature of this…

With increasing unemployment in the United States, the nation has seen a drop in the percentage of children in poverty with one or more parents in the workforce, a reverse of trends evident in the late 1990s. This research brief presents a statistical snapshot of working poor families with children in 2001. Analyses revealed that in 2001 children…

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…

This book offers educators and parents who work to forge authentic partnerships between home and school new insights based on the author's experiences with family literacy projects. During an 8-year study, the author examined the experiences of adult participants in school-based family literacy programs, exploring what accounted for sustained…

This report details the 28th annual study to examine the attitudes of student leaders in U.S. high schools. Participating in the survey were 3,210 adolescents, primarily 16- and 17-year-olds, who had been featured in the 1997 edition of "Who's Who Among American High School Students." The report presents demographic information on the…

Realizing the difficulty of teaching morals and manners, subjects which the laws of many States require to be taught, this bulletin on good manners has prepared as a help to elementary teachers. Though written for the teachers, it is addressed to the children and may be used in various way: It may be read silently by the teacher and discussed with…

Examines the relationship between family dysfunction, parental attachment, and career search self-efficacy using a sample of 220 community college students. Attachment to mother and father, and degree of family dysfunction combined to account for 14% of the variance in career search self-efficacy. Data were analyzed separately for men and women,…

Literature is reviewed on the effects of genetic and environmental contributions to children's intellectual functioning and the effects of preventive intervention on intellectual outcomes for high-risk children. Longitudinal case studies of two socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers with cognitive deficits are examined, along with interventions…

This article examines the theory, research, and social policy relating to family and individual life-cycle transitions for people with disabilities in the United States. Examples from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act illustrate both promising and inadequate policy…

Examines research on effects of African American culture on development of black children's positive self-esteem. Finds that black children do not seem to have lower self-esteem than their white counterparts; they develop positive self-esteem and ethnic identities assisted by a supportive family environment, a strong kinship network, and the…