For praise to have a positive effect on a child's achievement, teachers must be aware of some important research findings. Varying results of early studies on the benefits of praise still indicate one generalization: either praise or criticism is more effective in reinforcing student achievement than is ignoring achievement. Research in the past…

The authors review studies on the effects of these three types of learning situations on students' motivation, self-concept, attitudes, and psychological health. While concluding that all three can be appropriately used in the classroom, they give particular attention to the teacher's role in implementing cooperative activities. (SJL)

Administrators and teachers must gain more knowledge of new research on the gifted and use this information to create new educational programs that make optimal use of gifted students' learning styles and appropriate teaching methods. (CB)

Discusses the concept of pacing as it relates to distance education. Highlights include the relationship of pacing to academic standards, activity scheduling, student independence, student interaction, effective utilization of media, course materials, learning methods, student motivation, drop-out rate, and the cost effectiveness of pacing. (LRW)

Links are drawn between text theories, both linguistic and semiotic, and the teaching of writing. Presents class activities designed to motivate students and teach good writing based on these theories. (MSE)

A well-designed set of French language instructional materials, consisting of storybooks, cassette tapes, and oral and written activities designed for five to eight year olds, is reviewed. (MSE)

Suggestions for teachers who wish to increase academic learning time for learning-disabled students include: reducing transition time; shortening recess or free time; creating more teacher-led instructional groups; teaching more and testing less; increasing teacher questioning; increasing teacher enthusiasm; improving seatwork tasks; giving…

Informal but frequent teacher evaluations of students' academic achievement are not standardized by official prescriptions dictating which reference system is to be used. Three reference norms used when evaluating achievement are: social, criterion-oriented, and individual reference norms. (PN)

Literacy instruction does not end with reading success in early grades. As students move to middle and high school, new challenges emerge that can affect literacy achievement. Even for students who achieve early reading and writing success, the literacy demands of middle and high school can pose substantial challenges. Older students must be able…

This monograph describes the current educational status of Latino students in the United States and, based on the extant research, attempts to explain their relatively low educational performance. The research finds many structural and socio-cultural barriers to academic achievement for this group, including poverty, poor schooling, language …

Based on a literature review of factors that affect the provision of learning opportunities for adults and the experiences of Singapore's Institute of Technical Education (ITE), this paper proposes an empirical framework for developing and implementing lifelong learning systems. Following an introduction, the theoretical foundation for the…

Noting that the questions of when and how to teach beginning reading are among the most controversial in early childhood education, this chapter examines how young children develop as readers. The chapter begins with a focus on the emergent literacy perspective for the insights it provides into young children's reading and writing development. The…

Research on the attitudes of physical education students is reviewed, and psychological studies dealing with the concept of locus of control are summarized. Research is needed to clarify effective variables that will lead to the development of physically educated and physically fit individuals. (PP)

Penmanship is not simple for most young children, nor for many older students; yet, the skill is virtually ignored in teacher education. A model for training teachers to teach handwriting is suggested, incorporating: (1) diagnosis of students' needs; (2) motivational techniques; (3) classroom strategies; and (4) balancing creativity and mechanics.…

Explores some of the issues raised by the introduction of computers into society and, in particular, questions concerning the impact, both direct and indirect, of the availability of computers on the young. (CMG)