Parents can play a key role in attaining the United States' National Education Goals, a main component of which is that all children will be ready to learn when they enter school. This guide for parents provides basic information on factors related to school success and a series of activities that parents can do with their children, ages 5 through…

This paper describes the significant literary activities observed in the teaching of reading in an inner-London (England) primary school in a reception and year four class. Efforts at achieving a high level of literacy for all students are hampered by: (1) low parental literacy input and involvement in school; (2) continuous disruptive behavior…

Project Head Start has recently expanded into elementary schools through the National Head Start/Public School Transition Project (NTP), a school-based intervention program designed to improve outcomes for at-risk students. The SDTP (South Dakota site of NTP) is attempting to improve life chances for children by improving home and school…

The story of Alejandro Juarez, Jr., a Mexican American youth, and his family's experiences in the parochial and public schools of Chicago (Illinois) portrays the problems that bilingual and bicultural children and their parents face. A further dimension was added by Alejandro's learning problems, which further complicated an already complex and…

This book presents 21 case studies of young children with disabilities in a variety of family situations and settings, for early interventionists to study in planning and applying recommended practices. Section I, "Defining and Delivering Quality Services in Early Intervention," provides two introductory chapters: "The Search for Quality…

Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has actively promoted using volunteers and community resources to expand and improve program operations. This document is a collection of policies regarding the use of volunteers and community resources for the benefit of Head Start children and families. It is designed for use by program managers, volunteer…

"Bunko" are local mini-libraries for children in Japan, operated voluntarily by individuals or groups of parents, intended to nurture children's reading interest by offering them an inviting reading environment. In 1993, there were an estimated 4,000 bunko in Japan, with approximately 32,000 adult bunko members (90% female). Bunko…

This manual is designed for individuals responsible for training Head Start staff and parents to lead "Exploring Parenting" groups. It focuses on the role of trainers of groups of leaders and effective training methods. Chapter 1, "Approach to Training," describes the approach to training group leaders in a nonthreatening,…

In child care centers, parental involvement as well as staff sensitivity toward children and parents are essential for managing cultural diversity in a way that is beneficial for both migrant and indigenous families. Defining and improving the quality of center education from a multicultural perspective require discussions between staff and…

The Virgin Islands Department of Education represents one of the largest consolidated school districts in America, with 34 public schools serving 23,000 students. This annual report is designed to illustrate the many programs under the umbrella of the Virgin Islands Department of Education. The theme for 1993 is "The Year of Assessment,"…

This paper describes the application of a risk-based decision-making process in education and the use of risk communication with special education students and their parents. Risk-based decision making clarifies uncertainties inherent in a decision by examining the probability of a resulting harmful effect and the consequences of decisions made.…

The resources available to parents and the actions parents can take to further their children's education is reviewed through a collection of essays that focus on the social and economic resources of the family and by looking into the home, community, and school to see how families are involved in educational activities. The importance of parent…

This report of a Virginia interdisciplinary task force on children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the schools reviews what is known about this disorder and presents recommendations to the Virginia Department of Education and local school districts. Recommendations include the need to provide a systematic program of…

A revision of the 1989 publication, this directory was compiled in order to help parents and professionals involved with Head Start home-based programming in meeting the needs of young children and families. The directory lists a broad range of guides and resources on topics related to Head Start home-based programs. Each listing provides the…

The enrollment of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) students is increasing rapidly, so it is important for school personnel and community members to learn to communicate with API families. This guide describes how the backgrounds and cultures of the various API groups affect their attitudes and behavior. The three general ethnicities within the API…