This study examined how a structured voluntary reading intervention supports students in becoming better readers. A one-group pretest/posttest design was used to measure changes in elementary student's reading fluency, reading comprehension, and attitude towards reading in response to receiving an 8-week structured reading intervention. The 8-week…

Children who begin school with less knowledge in letter knowledge, phonological sensitivity, familiarity with rudiments of reading, and language ability are likely to have more difficulty learning to read. Additionally, parent involvement has been directly linked with reading achievement. All of the sixty-seven four- and five-year-old children…

The paper describes the T.O.T.E. (Teach Our Tots Early) Infant/Toddler Intervention Program to provide educational programing for handicapped children from birth to age 3 years. Sections address the following program components: program development, delivery model (primarily home-based), staffing, population (southeast Wayne County, Michigan),…

Describes various types of home-based programs for young retarded or severely handicapped children, identifying key elements and benefits. Model programs involve home visits, parent group meetings, workshops and combinations of these with preschool experience or group care, as well as a variety of other techniques. (BF)

Thirty-seven parents of developmentally handicapped children were surveyed concerning the effects of computerization on service delivery in a Parent Outreach Program. Most parents felt they were more able to see their children's progress over time and to select appropriate goals but did not report improvements in service quality. (Author/JDD)

The use of mothers of disadvantaged children as agents of educational intervention is investigated in this study. (The complete report will appear in the December, 1970, issue of "Child Development.") The program was designed to aid children's development and to foster a sense of dignity and value in the mothers. One Caucasian and 15 Negro…

A behavioral analysis of parental teaching style was performed to determine what variables in mothers' interaction patterns facilitated the greatest learning in their preschool handicapped children (n=11). Analyses indicated that the changes in parents followed the changes in their children, rather than the reverse. (Author/PN)

This study developed an experimental analysis procedure based on the results of a descriptive assessment, involving five parents and their children with problem behaviors. The experimental analysis required only four sessions to demonstrate a function for each subject's problem behaviors. Interventions involving functional communication training…

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of parents as change agents in an ongoing Head Start program. Subjects were 72 rural white disadvantaged and advantaged children and their parents who were assigned to three treatment groups: developmental language, structured language, and placebo (workshop). Mothers met in 12 weekly…

This article presents advantages gained in having parents act as behavior therapists with their problem children and explores several case studies making use of varied intervention strategies. Presented at Western Psychological Association, Los Angeles, April 1970. (CJ)

A home-based reinforcement program was instituted with three underachieving fourth graders who exhibited inappropriate behavior. Each day the children brought home a workbook assignment indicating percentage of correct responses and parents provided reinforcement for correct items and for improvement over time. Effectiveness on completion of daily…

This report describes Home Start, a sequential, highly individualized enrichment program for disadvantaged 2- to 5-year-olds. The program, based on the theoretical need hierarchy of Maslow, focuses on community and family dynamics. Home Start encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration, using the services of psychologists, social workers, home…

A model is proposed for developing home occupational/physical therapy programs for parents of children with physical disabilities, based on naturally occurring teaching opportunities in the family's daily routine. Potential barriers to the collaborative development of such programs are highlighted, and a case study illustrates the application of…

In order to establish an initial data source for elementary level home-based intervention programs, 18 dyads of second-graders and their parents were divided into three mutually exclusive achievement groups and observed while completing an instructional tool introduced into the home by the childs' school. Parent/child interactions were stimulated…

Literature dealing with parent involvement in home-based therapeutic programs for young developmentally disabled children is reviewed. Although research suggests such home based programs can be effective, professionals should carefully consider their expectations of parents as therapists, since they must also play the role of parents and primary…