Abstract Although Capeverdean Americans have been a part of the long multicultural history of the United States, little has been written within the professional literature about the special services needs of this cultural group. Capeverdean children requiring educational assistance represent a growing population within many large urban school settings. The provision of culturally relevant special services to Capeverdean youth and their families needs to be situated within an understanding of the sociocultural history of Cape Verde and the Capeverdean community here in the United States. This article presents some important features of the culture and history of Capeverdeans that are relevant for the provision of culturally sensitive special needs services.
Summary Effective home computer decision-making often requires partnerships between families from different cultures and professionals. This article provides a review of literature related to perceptions of home computers held by various cultural groups. A case is made that families vary in their degree of involvement in working with professionals to make decisions about home computers. A discussion is provided related to expectations that families may have of professionals who work with them during team decision-making processes. Because families also vary markedly with regard to supports needed to ensure effective implementation of home computers, training is described as a primary support required by many families.
Summary A multidimensional framework of collaboration is provided. We review research on e-mail, and discuss implications for practice and research with respect to collaboration in the schools. We devote particular attention to the implications of e-mail in consulting with classroom teachers, the functioning of school-based teams, and collaborating with parents. Barriers to collaboration are discussed, as well as how e-mail might improve collaboration. Ethical issues in using e-mail are considered, and guidelines for protecting confidentiality are presented. Finally, we discuss possible future uses of the Internet and e-mail with respect to special services in the schools. Examples are provided from our research on e-mail consultation and the Global School Psychology Network. Key Words: E-mailcollaborationconsultationcomputers
Summary On-line mentoring is a relatively new way to support students and teachers in the pursuit of ambitious constructivist learning. Using examples from classroom practice, this paper describes such “tele-mentoring” relationships, and how they differ from traditional mentoring, apprenticeship and tutoring. The design and use of a telementored curriculum unit in middle school science is then discussed, and a set of general guidelines is provided to aid teachers and administrators in designing and carrying out their own telementoring initiatives.
Families are in crisis. With an increasing array of problems affecting children in the home, from child abuse to familial alcoholism, schools are facing a vast array of behavioral and emotional concerns affecting childhood behavior. Unfortunately, many negative behaviors are learned at home. Violent and aggressive behaviors, for example, as well as drug and alcohol abuse, are often demonstrated by parents. From a community perspective, schools are in a pivotal position from which to intervene. Yet, many school-based mental health professionals, including school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers, lack the knowledge to provide direct interventions. This article examines contemporary problems facing families, considers the home-school linkage, and explores interventions for schools and school-based mental health professionals.
