Examines features of electronic mail discourse among sixth-grade students and their teachers. Highlights include structures of the sixth-grade classrooms; common characteristics of and differences between electronic and face-to-face communication; metacommunication; consistency with print genres; hierarchy; and the potential of electronic mail in…

There are striking parallels between American schooling and American children's baseball. Coaches and teachers should talk to each other. Both would learn something about learning techniques and about dealing with children, and much about dealing with parents. (Author/SJL)

A comparison is made between six state-adopted fourth-grade California history textbooks dating from 1940-1965 and seven textbooks adopted since 1980. The author's observations suggest that although overall changes between older and newer texts have been dramatic, the new books vary widely among themselves. Changes between older and newer texts…

Fifty fifth and sixth grade students participated in a study attempting to document motivational differences that may be associated with two approaches to classroom writing instruction. Thirty of the students were involved in the process-oriented approach where students are encouraged to write multiple drafts of assignments, attending to issues of…

This unit of study, intended for intermediate grade students, focuses on comparing students from different cultures: Germany and the United States. The unit addresses National Social Studies Standards (NCSS) standards; presents an introduction, such as purpose/rationale; cites a recommended grade level; states objectives; provides a time…

Because of the emphasis placed on language and the language process by both foreign language and special education, one must examine both the theoretical and the methodological similarities between the two areas. Even though differences between the students should be noted, what really needs to be examined is the learning process itself. This…

Describes a study of fifth graders that investigated whether types of revision and quality of writing vary for bilingual and monolingual students when using word processors as compared with paper and pencil. Topics discussed include keyboarding skills, bilingualism, and language art skills. (Contains 27 references.) (LRW)

A study investigated patterns of paragraph structure and organization in 19 short essays in Chinese by Taiwan middle school students. The organization of the writing samples were analyzed and the paragraphs classified according to five types of internal structure: deductive, with the main idea presented at the beginning; inductive, with the main…

Discussion of computer literacy, database technology, and higher-order thinking skills focuses on a study that compared the problem-solving performance of fourth-grade students receiving search strategy training during computer-assisted instruction with students who did not receive training. Time spent on problems and the number of correct answers…

Suggests that much of the research on middle level education is weak, sparse, and inconclusive. Presents critiques of research and an overview of the research findings of several highly-rated middle level programs. Identifies four factors contributing to the problem, specifically: an insufficient number of studies, utilization of weak research…