An approach used to help bridge the distance between home and school for bilingual/bicultural immigrant families is described. First, the various roles of the classroom teacher as cultural storyteller, cultural healer, and cultural worker in the relationship between the schools and homes of bilingual students is explored, drawing on recent…

Suggests involving parents more fully in their child's reading, by sending books from school to be shared at home. Describes a program that groups several books by theme or author in a backpack, along with a book for parents, a response notebook, and inventory card. Suggests funding sources and management concerns for such a program, and includes…

Reviews research data to identify design criteria for a school-family policy system that includes evaluation of teachers' relations with families. Finds that evaluation of teachers' relationships with families is valuable to fostering school-family partnerships. Provides parent involvement policies to consider as fair criteria for evaluating…

Examines the proposition that children construct their own knowledge. Reviews contributions to and criticisms of Piagetian and Vygotskian theories, and considers their curricular implications. Discusses how the work of Gardner and Case extends that of Piaget. Emphasizes application of theory to a culturally relevant approach to classroom practices…

A survey about inclusion of children with disabilities in early-childhood settings was responded to by 172 parents, practicing professionals in early-childhood programs, university-based trainers, and preservice students. Professional competence and importance of skills were rated for five domains: (1) working with families, (2) performance-based…

Job sharing is a form of employment often overlooked by the average worker. Eight women were interviewed for this qualitative research study on the benefits and drawbacks of job sharing. Rather than simply allowing more time for them to spend with their children or on domestic chores, job sharing provided unanticipated opportunities to enjoy a…

This document is intended to be a self-evaluation tool to assist Colorado early childhood programs in working toward quality services. Eleven sections provide rating criteria on: (1) interaction among staff and children; (2) curriculum; (3) family-staff partnership; (4) staff qualifications and development; (5) administration; (6) staffing…

The nature of the relationships among contemporary family variables and school achievement is examined in this collection of articles. Divided into two parts, the collection examines related processes and issues. In the first part, the chapters and authors are: (1) "The Family-School Relationships Model" (Bruce A. Ryan and Gerald R.…

This report outlines the Quillayute Valley Child and Family Consortium's End of Year Readiness to Learn program activities, including outcomes through May 1995. The program was established in part by the Washington State Readiness to Learn Initiative, designed to help children benefit from schooling by enabling schools and social services…

This learning guide on assisting the elderly and individuals with disabilities is part of a series of learning guides developed for competency-based adult consumer and homemaking education programs in community colleges, adult education centers, community centers, and the workplace. Focus is on the connections among personal, family, and job…

In Europe, prejudice and stereotyping of Gypsies and Travellers often result in the failure of measures aimed at helping this group. This book resulted from a request of the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe to the Council of Europe to prepare teacher information packs on the history, culture, and family life of nomadic…

This book explores issues related to the links between families and schools and how they affect children's educational achievement, and is organized as follows: Part 1, titled "Families and Schools: How Can They Work Together To Promote Children's School Success?" contains the following chapters: chapter 1, "Family Involvement in…

The competing demands of the workplace and the home have intensified over the last 25 years as the nation has experienced dramatic social and economic changes affecting businesses, employees, and families. In 1993, Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to provide a national policy that supports families in their efforts to strike…

Often, parents walk into their children's schools and feel as if they don't have a place to "hang their hats." This guide argues that districts should establish a school family center as a focus of activity and learning for parents, school supporters, and children. The goal of the family center is to provide an avenue for participation…

Using Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates of employment in day-care establishments, this study analyzes changes in day care over the past 20 years. Growth in day-care employment has been much stronger than that of other industries. Since 1972, employment has increased by nearly 250 per cent. Causes of growth includes changing trends in enrollment…