This document is comprised of the 12 monthly issues of a newsletter providing support and information for providers of child care for school-age children. The featured articles for each month are: (1) "Tips for New and Old for the New School Year" (September); (2) "Train Them and Retain Them: Keeping Quality Staff" (October);…

This document is the report of a 3-year project designed to improve and expand foreign language study for elementary and secondary school students through the development of a variety of assessment tools. It is organized into four main sections: an overview of the project; assessment; articulation; and what has been learned. Teams of North…

This unit was created and first taught by the author in the children's demonstration class that was part of the 1995 Teacher Educator Partnership Institute sponsored by the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center (NFLRC) at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. The mission of the NFLRC is to improve student learning of foreign languages in…

This unit was created as a result of a summer institute sponsored by the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. The Center's goal is to improve student learning of foreign languages in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12). In the summer of 1996, the Center offered the Culture and Children's…

During the past 25 years a very significant change has taken place in the attitude of those in control of educational institutions toward the so-called summer season--specifically the months of July and August--as deserving a place in the academic year or calendar. Formerly, the extreme heat so common in many parts of the country was regarded as…

A Quality and Curriculum pilot summer school program paired teachers of remedial students, provided classroom volunteers, and arranged for teachers to attend sessions on reflection and learning in quality and curriculum each afternoon. Teachers then implemented new strategies with the summer school students. This article describes the program's…

Hearing-impaired students (32) and staff (25) of a 4-week summer program were interviewed. Among the conclusions are that teachers of hearing-impaired students should expect heterogeneity in terms of their preferred mode of communication, reading ability, lip reading ability, interest in science, etc. Effective instructional techniques include…

Partnerships among elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educators in San Antonio (Texas) aim at improving high school and college retention, particularly for Hispanic students. Programs include curriculum development as early as kindergarten, high school junior and senior enrollment in college courses, minority achievement supports, and…

A partnership of reservation schools, communities, universities, corporations, and agencies develops culturally appropriate curricula for Native Americans through technology. Nineteen member schools in 10 states set their own goals based on local needs and access to technology. Summer institutes provide teacher technology workshops and project…

In 1996, Chicago became the epicenter for this debate when it "ended social promotion" in the third, sixth, and eighth grades. While not the first, Chicago's initiative has been the most sustained to date and has produced the clearest evidence of positive as well as negative results. Test scores rose rapidly after the institution of…

This White Paper summarizes findings from an extensive literature review that was conducted to identify the most promising models and approaches for meeting the needs of low-income children, youth, and families during the summer months. Special attention is paid to summer learning programs that serve diverse, urban low-income children and youth.…

Details the summer workshop experiences of a participant in the EPIcenter (Earth Processes Information Center for Teachers) Project. Describes the impact of the experience on the professional practices of the classroom teacher. (DDR)

Details the summer workshop experiences of a participant in the EPIcenter (Earth Processes Information Center for Teachers). Describes the impact of the experience on the professional practices of the classroom teacher. (DDR)

Focuses on the Science Training to Enhance Leadership and Learning through Accomplishments in Research (STELLAR) program, a six-week, hands-on science training program. Discusses various aspects of the program as well as its benefits. (DDR)

Reports on an expedition to the Galapagos Islands focusing on the flora and fauna of the environment. Examines evidence that supports the theory of evolution and related classroom activities. (DDR)