A Portrait of Stepfamilies   

 

Today, more than four-in-ten American adults have at least one step relative in their family - either a stepparent, a step or half sibling or a stepchild, according to a nationwide Pew Research Center survey. People with step relatives are just as likely as others to say that family is the most important element of their life.  However, they typically feel a stronger sense of obligation to their biological family members (be it a parent, a child or a sibling) than to their step relatives, the survey finds. Several sweeping changes in the demography of American family life in the past half century - including increases in divorce and in the share of babies born out of wedlock - have contributed to the prevalence of step relatives.  For full article click here.

 

School Social Workers and Urban Education Reform with African American Children and Youth:  Realities, Advocacy, and Strategies for Change      

 

After over 40 years of education reform policies and strategies, America continues its need for systemic education reform. The greatest challenge confronting the nation remains within large urban metropolises where large numbers of minority students attend underfunded and low-performing schools with low standardized test scores and high dropout rates. African American children and youth constitute over 50% of all students in urban school systems. The social work profession has a long history of advocacy with urban minority students dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Yet, the appropriate body of knowledge that either conceptually or empirically documents practice methods by school social workers practicing within urban school settings with African American students does not exist. In a solution-oriented presentation with implications for school social work practice, advocacy, and research, the author will first review past and present education reform measures. The discussion then turns to ways in which the social work profession can address major issues of education reform with a clear understanding of the educational needs of urban African American children and youth using macro, mezzo, and micro practice measures.  Read full article.   

 

How to Promote a Learning-Receptive Emotional State   Webinar and Handouts     

 

Dr. Judy Willis addresses how to promote a learning-receptive emotional state in this webinar episode.  Dr. Willis is a board-certified neurologist and educator.  Find out what she has to say about changing student attitudes on her ASCD author's page.   Access the webinars.   Visit the author's page.