The Strong African American Families Program: translating research into prevention programming

A randomized prevention trial contrasted families who took part in the Strong African American Families Program (SAAF), a preventive intervention for rural African American mothers and their 11-year-olds, with control families. SAAF is based on a contextual model positing that regulated, communicative parenting causes changes in factors protecting youths from early alcohol use and sexual activity. Parenting variables included involvement-vigilance, racial socialization, communication about sex, and clear expectations for alcohol use. Youth protective factors included negative attitudes about early alcohol use and sexual activity, negative images of drinking youths, resistance efficacy, a goal-directed future orientation, and acceptance of parental influence. Intervention-induced changes in parenting mediated the effect of intervention group influences on changes in protective factors over a 7-month period.     

Design and documentation: The state of the art

Conclusion As designers contemplate methods for improving their practice over time, the thoughts expressed here, inspired by work in other creative design fields, may help us to choose which path will lead to the greatest benefit. With our visions growing rapidly because of improved tools, improved theory, and the new freedoms they give us, it is unhappy to think that new principles, ideas, and experiences may fail to emerge or be slow to benefit our students because we had no way to capture, examine, and share them and accomplish the assurance of their quality.     

Continuity and Progression in Science Teaching at Key Stages 2 and 3

Recent classroom observation suggests that the science taught at Key Stage 3 has changed little over the past two decades despite the introduction of the National Curriculum reforms. At the same time the 'high stakes' testing at the end of Key Stage 2 has resulted in less experimentation in Year 6. As a consequence, positive attitudes to science, which are already in decline at primary school, dip further after transfer, particularly among more able pupils. This article examines some of the structural factors responsible for the current situation and argues that the solution has more to do with a shift in pedagogy rather than further changes in the curriculum.     

Gifted Students From Low-Education Backgrounds

Gifted children from low-education backgrounds often experience barriers to educational and career success. This article reviews the growing body of literature regarding gifted students from low-education backgrounds and the related literature on the challenges and characteristics of first-generation college students. A mother and daughter interview provides a contextual example of the issues identified in the literature review. Implications for educators and practitioners are suggested, including ways in which elementary and middle schools can proactively address the issues facing low-education background students in gifted programs.     

Implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS): Collaboration Between School Psychologists and Administrators to Promote Systems-Level Change

Current educational reform mandates the implementation of school-based models for early identification and intervention, progress monitoring, and data-based assessment of student progress. This article provides an overview of interdisciplinary collaboration for systems-level consultation within a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. The roles of school psychologists and school-based administrators are presented in relation to the implementation of MTSS practices within an implementation science model. The training and expertise of each discipline are highlighted related to respective aspects of implementation drivers (i.e., competency, organization, leadership). Functions of principals and school psychologists during team-based, problem-solving MTSS practices are described based on a problem-solving framework consistent with school-based consultation. Future directions for graduate training of school psychologists and principals and directions for consultation research are provided.