A study examining Mexican-born parents' influence on their children's academic outcomes surveyed 273 Mexican American students attending three Los Angeles high schools. Girls reported higher academic motivation and educational aspirations than boys. Parent behaviors of helping, monitoring, and supporting positively affected academic motivation.…

Presents a brief but fascinating discussion of a high school junior's use of primary sources for her presentation at History Day in California. She contacted black athletes who gave the black power salute at the 1968 Olympics and conducted several hours of interviews. These interviews were incorporated into a paper. (MJP)

An English teacher's impromptu unit on social problems gave students opportunity to develop writing skills while expanding concept of community. While gathering data on diminishing rain forests (chosen topic), discussing research in small groups or workshops, interviewing community members, sending letters to political representatives, plugging…

A random survey (with 25 followup interviews) asked 150 California high-school teachers to describe differences in their classrooms since students began using the Internet. Students are excited about using computers and actively engaged in finding and discussing information and writing reports. Teachers serve as motivators and learning guides.…

SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL, IN 1960-1961, ESTABLISHED A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HOLD A SELECTED GROUP OF POTENTIAL DROPOUTS IN SCHOOL IN ORDER TO IMPROVE SCHOLASTIC MOTIVATION, REDUCE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, DEVELOP INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS, AND PROVIDE PRELIMINARY WORK EXPERIENCE. TWO EXPERIMENTAL AND TWO CONTROL CLASSES WERE FORMED. THE STUDENTS ATTENDED…

This study examined (1) the incentive for achievement motivation of female and male Mexican American and Anglo American children and (2) the relationship between language behavior, as a possible indicator of acculturation, and modes of achievement motivation. A questionnaire type scale was developed to provide a viable assessment measure that is…

A student-counselor-assistant program was initiated at Los Angeles City College (California) in the fall of 1968. Its objectives included determining if these peer counselors could influence the academic success and motivation of socio-economically disadvantaged students to complete the 2-year program, and if they might ultimately help recruit…

National attention has been focused on the fact that math and science scores for students in the United States are among the lowest in the world. In DeSchryver's (1998) article, "Fifteen Years and Still a Nation at Risk," it was noted that American twelfth graders ranked nineteenth out of 21 industrialized nations in mathematics…

The current study evaluates whether a mentoring program can increase self-esteem and internal locus of control in underrepresented community college students. The primary goal of the mentoring program was to facilitate Compton Community College (CCC) students' successful transfer to a four-year university by fostering relationships with mentors…

This article examines the influence of Japanese cultural values, beliefs, and educational style on Japanese students learning English as a second language in an American classroom. In contrast to the Japanese students' high motivation to learn English, their classroom behavior and roles reflect their own cultural perspectives rather than the…

This evaluation of Project Special Elementary Education for the Disadvantaged (SEED) sought to assess the impact of SEED instruction upon students enrolled in disadvantaged schools (grades three to six) in four major study areas: mathematics achievement, interest in math and other school subjects, motivation, and self concept. In addition, the…

The purpose of this study was to seek conclusive data for answering the following research question: To what extent can the attitudes of community colleges students be improved through the systematic application of commercially produced attitude change packages? Eight California community colleges conducted an experiment using a variety of…

This report provides a profile of Diablo Valley College (DVC) in California as a transfer institution. According to the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC), DVC has been among California's top three transfer institutions for the past 4 years. The college sends more than 2,000 students a year to baccalaureate programs, and after…

Studies show that afterschool programs improve academic achievement, reduce grade retention and increase student attendance and interest in school. Across the country, afterschool is a key element in strategies to turn around under-performing schools. The superintendent of Philadelphia and the governor of Virginia have used afterschool to turn…

This study compared the outcomes and experiences of 275 older and 442 younger liberal arts students who had transferred from California community colleges to a research I California university in fall 1994 and spring 1995. The study's conceptual perspective was that of "quality of effort," which considers both what the institution offers…