The purpose of this quantitative study was to provide school district leaders and policymakers information of the impact grade configuration had on academic performance using math and ELA ILEARN scores over a three-year period. The study included data from 585 schools that were classified into four groups: Elementary Setting, Intermediate Setting,…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to gather information from elementary teachers who use best practices to examine the impact of self-efficacy and mindset. Data was gathered from elementary teachers who use best practices in mathematics instruction. This research examined if location type (rural, suburban, urban), years of experience…

The focus of this research project was to examine how problem- based learning (PBL) impacts students' interest and knowledge in computer science (CS) at the elementary level. By focusing on a problem that emphasizes social activism, we hypothesized that PBL CS could increase interest for students. We employed an iterative design-based research…

The best gifts are those given by a deeply caring parent, a special relative, or a friend. Presents seldom last, but memories do. Parents are advised to create memories for their children this holiday season by giving them their time, caring, and love. Parents should make and keep promises to spend time with their children. (MLH)

Just as director sets stage and oversees theater production, middle-level administrator plays behind scenes, ensuring that school's message is clearly developed and focused on adolescents' needs. Actors must understand and integrate message into their roles and transmit it properly to audience/students. Article honors four outstanding…

In 1986, Lilly Endowment launched Middle Grades Improvement Program as a major initiative to meet young adolescents' needs. This article describes development of the MGIP's "building public support" component. A survey of Indiana schools involved with this component showed that most districts developed new programs involving schools,…

Incubators in the Classroom is an extension program designed to teach fourth-graders about egg hatching. More than 15,000 Indiana students have used the learning materials, which include incubators, lesson guides, and CD-ROM learning guides. The Purdue extension service is in the process of conducting critical evaluation of the program. (SK)

This teacher's guide on the 50 state quarters emitted by the United States Mint includes 6 "teacher-friendly" lesson plans that fit easily into the curriculum for grades 4-6; reproducible student worksheets that coincide with each lesson; "fun" state facts and information on the new quarter designs; and USA map template with…

A study was conducted in order to determine the specific classroom qualities and characteristics that promote and motivate students to develop attitudes and behaviors conducive to civic participation. One classroom is a bi-lingual sixth grade, located in an older neighborhood school in a coastal southern California city and the other is a…

Describes the Legends Project in Indiana in which a class collaboratively researches, writes, and illustrates a local legend and sends it via computers and modems to other classes across the state. (SR)

Argues how important it is that reading support continue in middle schools. Describes briefly the Young Hoosier Book Award Program for Indiana middle schools. Outlines conditions in schools that seem to affect participation in such programs. (SR)

This publication describes efforts taken in Indiana to improve middle-grade education. The restructuring of the state's urban middle grades has been supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., which founded the Middle Grades Improvement Program (MGIP), 6 years ago. Despite the lack of an overall middle-grade theme in the state Department of Education and…

Activities and resources developed for Indiana middle school teachers to use for instruction about Native Americans are included in this thematic instruction kit. The resource includes a film review, ideas for field trips, vocabulary words, and geographical information. Each activity lists materials, and directions, and identifies an arts…

This dissertation explores the storytelling abilities and story repertoire of children from a sixth-grade class in Gosport, Indiana. The history and present nature of Gosport are first examined, to indicate community and social influences on the children's story repertoire. The children's repertoire, presented in an annotated collection, includes…

Findings from a study that examined the ways in which secondary-school administrators deal with student misconduct are presented in this paper. A secondary focus is the effect of school size and community type on administrators' perceptions and actions. A survey mailed to 100 middle and 100 secondary-school administrators from 302 Indiana school…