Meeting teachers' differing training needs calls for an assortment of staff development strategies to be selected by the teachers themselves. Choices should include individualized education plans, short-term sabbaticals, substitute-teacher teams, teachers as instructors, peer coaching, teacher exchanges, released time, summer workshops, weekend…

Vanderbilt University (Tennessee) involves students in faculty research projects to enrich the undergraduate experience. The summer program offers stipends to students to work with faculty or graduate students on specific projects. Students are exposed to the processes of research and better able to choose or reject a research career. (MSE)

A survey of 648 United States and Canadian colleges and universities concerning their alumni education programs revealed that, although programs vary greatly, the most prevalent types are campus nonresident, foreign travel-study, and on-campus resident programs. In many cases, alumni office and continuing education divisions cosponsor programs.…

Describes how the Department of Defense Dependent Schools developed and implemented a new K-12 physical education curriculum for schools serving American students in 19 countries worldwide. The new curriculum integrates physical fitness assessment and education at all levels. Inservice workshops and one-week summer programs were held for teachers.…

An eight-week residential program at the University of California at Irvine aims to increase representation of Native American students in high-tech fields and to encourage transfer of Native American students to four-year programs. Students spend four weeks in intensive computer science classes and four weeks serving as interns at sponsoring…

Reports on programs for children and young adults in public libraries in Canada and the United States and discusses implications for Australian libraries. Highlights include budgets; volunteers; government funding; and summer reading programs, including registration, measurements of reading, and programming. (LRW)

Outlines a major literacy initiative for urban children taking place in the Dallas, Texas Public Schools. Describes several different programs at the school district level aimed at family and community outreach, in order to create a literacy-education support system with primary care givers in the homes. (SR)

One way of determining construct validity of vocabulary items in language tests is to interview subjects directly after taking the items to ascertain what is known about the target words in question. This approach was combined within the framework of lexical competency in a study of the behavior of lexical items on the Test of English as a Foreign…

A study examined the educational histories of 120 talented individuals in various fields for recurrent patterns. The study found patterns for childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood phases. The importance of time, task, and communities of practice in everyday life is stressed. The Academic Talent Development Program, a summer program for…

At a Portland (Oregon) weeklong summer workshop, K-12 teachers connect with their peers, learn from professional writers, and develop skills for teaching writing. As follow-up, participants get four guest writers for weeklong classroom residencies, $400 for books, and additional meetings with fellow participants. The program has improved teaching…

A 26-day summer field course of West Virginia University's (WVU) Recreation and Parks Department took students to Malaysia's mountains and rainforests to observe how Malaysians are managing national parks, problem elephants, and population pressures on parks. The adventure provided powerful learning experiences. Further exchanges between WVU and…

Provides a personal reminiscence of the first two years (1928-29) of the now famous Interlochen Arts Camp. Profiles the camp's two founders, Joseph E. Maddy and Thaddeus P. Giddings. Early participants performed carpentry and landscaping duties and learned a classical music repertoire. Includes photographs of Maddy and Giddings. (MJP)

A study assessed social skills development in children aged 8-13 with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder after they attended a residential summer camp. Questionnaires returned by parents of 12 such campers reported increases in age-appropriate behavior, independence, self-esteem, connection with peers, and participation in group activities.…

Describes one strategy used by Tennessee Technological University to promote a supportive environment for minority students in the College of Engineering. This precollege program encourages college-bound African-American high school graduates to pursue engineering careers. A key component in bridging the gap between high school and college is the…

When the faculty members for study abroad programs invite student affairs professionals to accompany them abroad, they combine skills and talents to ensure that students' holistic needs are met. The authors were partnered in an Italian Studies summer program in 2001 and 2002,in which the student affairs professional was available to help the…