Describes a study in which average eighth graders in an urban junior high school were placed into prealgebra classes normally reserved for high achievers. The average achievers in the prealgebra classes understood mathematical concepts better and enrolled in more advanced mathematics classes during high school, than did their cohorts. (GLR)

Study examined whether adaptive and maladaptive functioning related to academic achievement in African-American and white students. Parent interviews indicated adaptive and maladaptive behaviors predicted grade point average and achievement test scores for white students, but only maladaptive behavior predicted scores for African-American…

Offers a field-tested stock market unit designed to develop mathematical skills involving fractions and decimals, basic understanding of the stock market, and hypothesis testing skills in real world situations. Includes tables displaying questions, tally sheets, and instructions, as well as a list of related activities. (MDH)

The cultural deficit model is challenged by findings of high African-American aspirations in a study of effects of race, social class, and gender on student and parent aspirations and expectations for the eighth grade cohort of the National Educational Longitudinal Study (1988) (survey of 22,651 parents). (SLD)

Considered transfer of students' (n=100) mathematical understanding across different task contexts in an integrated process-content approach using open-ended activities and a typical English content-based approach. The integrated approach facilitated transfer. (Contains 26 references.) (MKR/Author)

Describes the use of audio and video technology to motivate eighth-grade students with special needs to produce a documentary video for a Civil War curriculum unit; profiles the students involved in the project; and evaluates the project based on students' reactions, achievements, and follow-up activities. (LRW)

Describes a social studies assignment developed for Arizona eighth graders that focuses on Arizona history but also incorporates English, math, and computer programming skills to create a computer program about traveling through the state. Topics discussed include classroom management, computer requirements, community involvement, and interaction…

Reported is an approach to teaching the use of Macintosh computers to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students within the context of a simplified model of scientific research including proposal, data collection and analyses, and presentation of findings. Word processing, graphing, statistical, painting, and poster software were sequentially…

The reliability of Mantel-Haenszel (MH) indexes across samples of examinees and sample sizes and their robustness to item context effects were investigated with data for 670 African-American and 5,015 white students from the Second International Mathematics Study. MH procedures can be used to detect differential item functioning. (SLD)

Develops a definition of inner-city children based on community location and poverty level, and applies this definition to eighth grade data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988. Inner-city students differ from others in racial and ethnic backgrounds, family incomes, parents' education and employment, and family composition. (SLD)

Examines whether differences in the functional strategies of texts written by English-speaking children of concrete and low formal operations levels of intelligence also exist in texts written by Polish-speaking children. Studies fifth and eighth grade elementary school children. Concludes that formal operational subjects were better able to…

The influence of mathematics-specific teaching practices on class-level mathematics achievement was studied using Second International Mathematics Study data for 236 eighth-grade classes (approximately 7,000 students). Links between class characteristics and teaching practices are explored. High socioeconomic status and high-ability students…

This study investigated the relationship between characteristics and views of 35 middle school sexuality education teachers and their students' responses to the course. Teacher and student questionnaires indicated a variety of teacher variables were significantly related to students' sexual knowledge, attitudes, and anticipated behaviors and to…

Describes effects of interactive video in the social studies classroom. Delineates basic system components and how they may be used to access multimedia kits or to create teacher-designed systems. Illustrates the method by using kits in a tenth grade world history class and an eighth grade unit on the 1988 presidential campaign. (NL)

Describes a summer 1992 study tour of Egypt and Greece by 15 teachers, 15 students, and 5 geography administrators. Focuses on the experiences and attitudes of one eighth-grade student. Asserts that her presentations to student and adult groups have encouraged other students to become more interested in travel and other cultures. (CFR)