To provide cost effective, quality training to businesses and industrial organizations in central Ohio, Columbus State Community College (CSCC) established the Business and Industry Training Division (BITD) in 1986. The Division has increased the sales of training programs and the number of credit and non-credit class sections, and in 1994,…

Identifying primary themes in literacy development and suggesting parallel practices to reinforce them, this book details how teachers and the families of students created a connection between home and school, developing respected partnerships in the teaching/learning process. The book features the voices of teachers, children, and parents;…

Noting that no one approach to reading instruction is "best" for every child, this booklet discusses the "reading styles" approach, which matches instructional approaches to each child's particular strengths and weaknesses in reading. The first section of the booklet discusses the urgency of the issue of low reading achievement…

This document provides a compilation of information presented at the "Cause for Applause" conference sponsored by the Urban Education Network of the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) and the Chicago (Illinois) public schools. The first section, "Strategies for Urban School Improvement," describes programs…

By publishing a quarterly school and community newspaper, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders get involved in the writing of many types of articles, proofreading, communication skills, interviewing skills, investigative reporting, photography, artistic and graphic design, and computer technology. As the students work together on each issue of the…

Activities at Edith Cowan University (Australia) in support of the maintenance of Aboriginal languages and Aboriginal English are discussed. Discussion begins with an examination of the concept of language maintenance and the reasons it merits the attention of linguists, language planners, and language teachers. Australian policy concerning…

Over the past several years, teachers at the West Virginia University Child Development Laboratory have used the language experience approach to develop the literacy skills of young children. To increase child involvement, a scrapbook project for 4-year-olds was conducted each Wednesday for 1 academic year. Each child received a scrapbook and…

The Computerized Inventory of Developmental Writing Traits (CIDWT) is meant to provide a valid reliable measure of program improvement, particularly for teachers implementing a process writing approach in their classrooms. While standardized tests, portfolio, and holistic scoring all have something to offer, the CIDWT is an inexpensive direct…

Designed for use by parents to further the emotional, social, and intellectual development of their 2- to 6-year old children, this book describes the Montessori method of early childhood education and provides sample activities and games to develop children's skills in the home, the neighborhood, and the world. Following introductory sections…

This document consists of the four issues of a newsletter published during 1996-1998. This newsletter provides a periodic update on the activities of the Early Childhood Research Working Group (ECRWG), organized in 1995 by the U.S. Department of Education and other federal government departments and agencies to promote interagency cooperation and…

This research report argues for viewing the complex, often messy process of school reform implementation as a "conditional matrix" coupled with qualitative research. As illustration, two studies (of six reform efforts in one county and of implementation of an untracking program in Kentucky) are reported. Preliminary analysis reveals that…

This paper reports on a staff development program which provides systematic, ongoing development opportunities for all certified and classified Meridian (Idaho) school district staff. School district funds are the primary revenue source, and the program was developed and implemented with minimal funding. Local colleges and a university participate…

A discussion of the design of effective instructional materials for English as a Second Language (ESL) focuses on the application of second language learning theories and concepts of instructional design from educational technology to development of interactive video. A number of second language learning models and related research are examined,…

This bibliography assembles a wide range of information on parental attitudes and behaviors that will help readers understand the needs of families, and especially low-income families, who use child care. Most of the books, reports, and journal articles described can be obtained from libraries. Topics addressed by these sources of information…

A need exists in schools for conflict resolution programs to help young people deal with differences. This booklet describes the Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR) conflict resolution program. The program follows nine key concepts: (1) conflict is a part of life; (2) many conflict situations can achieve "win-win" solutions; (3)…