Sex-related differences in achievement were studied in a random sample of 130 schools, using data from the Second International Mathematics Study. No significant differences were found in arithmetic, algebra, and probability and statistics; for geometry and measurement, boys were more successful. (MNS)

Conducted three controlled studies involving progressive relaxation (PR). Subjects included 40 tenth graders (Study 1), 113 eighth graders (Study 2), and 30 eleventh and twelfth graders (Study 3). Found regular practice with PR produced reductions in both physiological and paper-and-pencil dependent measures; expectancy effects could result in…

An evaluation of a bilingual program for native English speakers in Ontario that involves the use of French as the medium of instruction for 70 percent of the curriculum in grade 8 and 40 percent in grade 9. (Author/KM)

A study explored the question of the development of recall for narrative and informative texts. Subjects, 60 5th- 8th-, and 11th-grade students from a rural area of Quebec, representing all levels of achievement, were presented with an informative text and a narrative text. Results indicated that: (1) the narrative text elicited a longer recall…

Explores a range of responses, attitudes, and behaviors of seventh- and eighth-grade students to computer and video technology through observations and other research techniques over the course of a school year. Characterizes the students as having "computer personalities" and explains different cases. Offers suggestions for including…

The first segment of a two-part general report of a province-wide reading assessment program in British Columbia, this report describes and analyzes the reading test results of students in grades 8 and 12 in the domains of word meaning identification, comprehension of prose, applied reading, and study skills. The chapters of the report provide…

In order to investigate the effects of computer technology on the composing processes of students in grades 8 and 12, a study compared students' writing in two conditions (writing by pen and writing by word processor), specifically addressing the questions of whether computer use led to an increase in revision and/or an improvement in quality.…

Ideas are offered for helping eighth-grade students incorporate an at-home field trip to Canada into a social studies unit. The teachers who developed the unit state that students can complete the 21-day imaginary trip in five hours of classroom time when appropriate materials are available and the classroom environment is conducive to working on…

The second segment of a two-part general report of a province-wide reading assessment program in British Columbia, this report presents the results of two teacher surveys, one dealing with the desired objectives of secondary reading instruction and the other concerning the methodology of instruction throughout the province. The chapters of the…

Summarizing a two-part general report on a reading assessment of grades 8 and 12 in the province of British Columbia, this report provides the general background on the aims and methods of the assessment, presents information on the development of the test instrument, details the administration of the test, and reports its results. In addition,…

This booklet is aimed primarily at parents of Grade 8 students in the province of Ontario and is intended to help parents plan their child's secondary education. In particular, the booklet attempts to clearly describe the choices open to students as they move from Grade 8 to secondary school and to relate, in a general way, secondary school…

Analyzes the Second International Mathematics Study data on the use of instructional aids by 103 Ontario grade eight mathematics teachers using dual-scaling analysis. The effect of instructional aids did not remain after the influence of topic coverage was removed. (Author/YP)

The Alberta (Canada) curriculum for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade French immersion instruction is presented. An introductory section describes the rationale and objectives of the program and provides a brief bibliography. The next section charts the types of discourse on which the curriculum focuses within each language skill area (listening, speaking,…

In a survey of 517 8th- and 12th-grade students in Waterloo County (Ontario) schools, the majority of students who had attended outdoor and environmental education programs reported high levels of learning in key areas of ecology and environmental studies. In addition, most respondents reported feeling positive about the program and their…