This handbook has been developed to offer guidelines and suggestions to volunteers in mentoring programs to help them strengthen the mentoring relationship. The program for which the handbook was designed, the Mentor/Tutor Network in Madison, Wisconsin, has evolved into a comprehensive support system for schools to collaborate with community…

This guidebook explores some of the practical issues associated with finding, choosing, and starting potentially effective prevention programs for at-risk preteens and teens. The guidebook is based on a study of 51 intervention programs that identified elements and delivery mechanisms that were associated with their effectiveness. A closer look at…

Instructional development, particularly for the severely and profoundly handicapped, should stress the delineation of clearly stated functional goals and objectives and the use of systematic instructional strategies to facilitate the acquisition and generalization of target skills. (Author)

Describes how to organize a successful college jazz festival. The author discusses how to find funding, the importance of getting good musical clinicians and star attractions, and the use of media to promote the festival. (AM)

The author suggests that the systems approach used in industrial management can help in the planning of special centers for handicaped students in regular schools. Special centers are considered in terms of their growth, benefits, and as a system development. (SB)

Innovation insurance involves planning in order to avoid pitfalls. When adopting microcomputers, this means answering 10 preliminary questions, appointing a coordinator of computer services, and arranging inservice teacher training. (Author/JM)

Steps in developing career education programs for learning disabled adolescents are described, and components of a successful career education program are outlined. (SW)

Suggests techniques for planning and administering gifted programs, identifying gifted students, and gaining program acceptance. (JM)

The study recorded the origin, development, and implementation of the physical facilities, organizational structure, and program of Chamisa Elementary School, Los Alamos, New Mexico. Recommendations made pertain to administrative and public support, physical facilities, faculty selection, innovating on a limited scale, curriculum development, team…

Among procedural considerations in planning a peer tutoring program are tutor and tutee selection (examining age, sex, socioeconimic, cultural, and racial factors); tutor training; and program monitoring. Ethical considerations include stigmatization of the tutee. Future research issues should focus on long term effects and optimal tutor-tutee…

The author provides information on organizing a parent support group for parents of gifted children to share problems and plan appropriate educational opportunities for their children. Suggestions are made for making contacts, developing the group structure, and ensuring the group's success. (SBH)

Discusses the uses of surveys, notes the types of survey instruments available, and provides examples of survey instruments to assess teacher competencies and student reading behavior. Suggests that surveys are especially useful for providing information for two sections of grant applications: the needs assessment and comprehensive planning…

To obtain financing for an energy conservation program the person responsible must have credibility, document actual savings, and furnish research reports about systems requested. (MLF)

The authors define a needs assessment, consider issues involved in conducting a problem-focused needs assessment, and outline practical considerations in conducting needs assessment for inservice training in regular education. (CL)

The article discusses the application of business and industry-derived training techniques, strategies, and ideas to the in-service training of special education and regular teachers. Three scenarios are presented to illustrate serious deficiencies in providing training at the local, regional, and state levels. (DLS)