School,family, and community partnerships in teachers’ professional work

Abstract

This article discusses the contributions of the international studies in this special issue and presents a few emerging topics on school, family, and community partnerships. The studies in Part I confirm that, across countries, future teachers are inadequately prepared to conduct effective partnership programmes with all students’ families. Part II reports the results of interventions that provide future teachers with opportunities to practice the kinds of communications with parents that they will use as new teachers. In my and colleagues’ studies, several topics of family and community engagement have emerged that will extend and enrich college courses for future teachers and school leaders. These include a redefinition of the ‘professional’ teacher; understanding partnerships as a component of good school organisation; the importance of goal-linked family and community engagement for student success in school; the role of the community in partnership programmes; and the connections of preservice and inservice education for preparing and sustaining productive connections of home, school, and community.     

The interactive effect of language and question format on accounting students' performance

This article reports the results of research to determine if a significant interactive effect exists between students' lingual background (English as a primary language [EPL] versus English as a secondary language [ESL]) and question format on students' examination scores. Students were administered examinations made up of four subtests covering the same subject matter. The subtests were composed of four question formats: multiple choice quantitative, multiple choice theoretical, open-ended quantitative, and open-ended essay questions. Based on analysis of variance and analysis of covariance, significant differences were observed between EPL and ESL students depending on the type of question on the examination.     

Normal versus abnormal genital findings in children: How well do examiners agree?

In order to determine how well medical examiners agree on the significance of certain anogenital findings in children, preselected colposcopic photographs of the anogenital area of 16 patients were shown to 170 medical examiners (82% pediatricians) who were blinded as to the history on each patient. Findings rated most frequently as being suggestive or indicative of penetrating injury included immediate anal dilatation with no stool present (85%), hymenal transection (84%), marked narrowing of the hymenal rim with notching (81%), and a posterior fourchette scar (75%). The agreement between the participants and the experts on the abnormal cases (mean 81%) was significantly higher than on the normal cases (mean 71%, p < .001) and on genital findings (78%) than on anal findings (63%, p = .000). Higher experience level (more cases seen per month) was associated with significantly higher agreement between the participants and the experts on five of eight normal cases and two of four abnormal cases. Use of a colposcope was also associated with higher overall agreement with the experts (74% vs. 44%, p < .0001).     

Self-image and self-awareness: Group activities

As young children develop both physically and emotionally, it is important for adults to present opportunities to them for discussion and reflection upon their growth. The activities below suggest five creative ways to help foster a positive self-image and boost self-awareness. Baby Talk, The Birthday Chair, and Chronicle Growth Chart aid young children in their awareness of the process of growth. Music Pictures introduces a mode for self-expression. Dial-a-Parent integrates the family into the school environment. Children should enjoy the time spent devoted to studying themselves.These activities are from the bookThe Elementary Guidance Connection Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.     

Quality in the early field experiences: A product of grade level and cooperating teachers training

Data collected for the study indicate that grade level and the supervisory training status of the cooperating teacher affect the quality of the early field experiences. Field experience students likely to have the most active, sequential, systematically evaluated experience were those placed in elementary settings with trained cooperating teachers. The authors discuss planning considerations for teacher educators suggested by this differentiation of quality by grade level and supervisory training.     

拯救生命的给予

大多数的人总是倾向于临渴挖井而非居安思危,总觉得那些不幸之事不会降临到自己身上,但是大家有没有想过,也许有一天躺在病床上苦苦等待别人救助的会变成我们自己或者我们亲友?我是那些幸运儿之一,现在轮到我去帮助别人了。我最近进行了一次奇妙的旅行,刚从南非的德班回来,我在那里参加了第19届世界移植运动会。自1996年起,我就一直有参加这个移植运动会。无论怎么看,我