Engages students in critical thinking about what they read and involves students in authentic literacy activities by implementing a semester-long pen pal program. Examines the nature of the letters, categorizes the kinds of questions asked, and notes the patterns of communications between the pen pal pairs in order to glean the benefits to both…

Explores the reader response patterns and intergenerational dialogue produced by five high school/university student pairs reading and reacting to a young adult multicultural novel, Gary Soto's "Buried Onions." Concludes that participants offered multiple perspectives, maintained mutual respect for each other's interpretations, and revealed the…

Examines the meaning of work for older adults in a sample of 146 older job seekers. Proposes four factors to the meaning of work: financial, personal, social, and generativity. Indicates ethnic and employment differences regarding the meaning of work. Jobs providing opportunities for transfer of knowledge and experience to younger generations may…

Ten elementary school students in need of a positive self-image and/or a sense of appropriate social conduct took part in a monthly intergenerational visiting program at an assisted living facility. In comparison to systematic observations obtained in their classrooms, the children were observed to be significantly less anxious, more interested,…

Attempted to determine whether there would be a change in 15 sixth graders' attitudes toward aging after intergenerational contact with nursing home residents. Found that increased contact with the elderly during the remotivation group interaction program resulted in a slight improvement in children's perceptions of the elderly. (ABB)

Using oral survey methods, this study examined potential language maintenance or loss of Mayan languages among the Guatemalan-Maya communities of Southeast Florida. Among dislocated immigrants and their children, the language of the dominant socio-economic forces often displaces other languages (Fishman, 1967). A Guatemalan community in Los…

Staff from Generations Together evaluated the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps' intergenerational projects to give the Corps a better understanding of the views of project participants, to identify problems, and to offer recommendations for improvements. These Conservation Corps programs teamed older workers as group leaders or Corps members with…

Discusses the positive benefits of having young children interact with older adults, citing research reports and the experiences of one elementary school's partnership with a senior citizens center. Provides the results of student, parent, teacher, and senior citizen surveys on the partnership. (MDM)

Intergenerational programming, which brings children, youth, and older adults together for mutually beneficial interaction, represents a relatively new strategy for broadening the public's awareness and participation in environmental activities. To explore the potential benefits of involving older adults and young people in joint environmental…

There has been little research on play undertaken in the UK from the child's perspective. This article is based on a year long ethnographic study of children's role play in school. It draws on two main sources of data. First, data from the children concerning their perceptions of role play, what they liked and disliked about it, and secondly…

The learning that parents accomplish through informal involvement in running preschool learning groups was examined through a survey of adults who were actively involved in a Pre-School Learning Alliance program in 1 of 10 locations throughout England. Of the 632 adults contacted, 311 (nearly 50%) completed questionnaires. Approximately 60…

Attitude change among older and younger participants in intergenerational programs is investigated. While elderly participants in several programs reported positive feelings resulting from their involvement with children, children's attitudes attributed to intergenerational experiences were mixed. Research should consider longitudinal growth and…

Data and concepts relevant to the Carolina Abecedarian experiment (an intensive early intervention intended to improve the intellectual performance of high-risk children) are presented. Evidence from the project supports the malleability of early intellectual development and improved school readiness and performance resulting from the…

Investigated counselor trainee's recollections of early family structure and current intergenerational relationships. Found trainees who remained relatively free from "triangling" patterns with parents reported significantly greater spousal intimacy, more individuation from parents, and less triangulation with children and spouses.…

Demographic and socioeconomic status of Hispanic Americans, and particularly of the elderly, are discussed. The leadership roles and legacy of older persons in the extended multi-generational Hispanic American family are examined, and a case study is presented. Programatic efforts are needed to support close family ties and intergenerational…