Technology education is gradually replacing industrial arts. National Science Foundation's 1983 report "Educating Americans for the 21st Century" outlines program to help middle-school students develop skills, such as controlling and using "new" body, moving from concrete to abstract, establishing independence from adults, and…

Considers that when students from different ethnic backgrounds interact in multicultural schools, misunderstandings can arise due to the uncertainties present in encounters between people from different backgrounds. Identifies experiences students report as promoting positive interethnic relationships and those which negatively impact interethnic…

The report describes accomplishments of a program designed to promote abilities of 75 potentially gifted culturally different students in grades 3-4. Student selection procedures included the Basic Structure of Intellect (SOI) Learning Abilities Test and teacher interviews. The curriculum emphasized SOI materials and cultural arts. Detailed data…

Assessment of effects of school principal involvement on acquisition of multiplication facts by 309 intermediate grade students found that taking the timed test three times per week resulted in consistent sustained gains and that a math game with the principal contingent on improved class performance was the most effective principal-initiated…

The Trade-Offs series focusing on economics in the daily life of students was found to be effective in teaching decision-making skills to 312 gifted students in grades five and six. Teacher and student comments further indicated satisfaction with the program. (CL)

A limited test of the Annehurst Curriculum Classification System's techniques for matching instructional materials to learner characteristics failed to reveal significant differences between the achievement of students matched to materials and those unmatched. (PGD)

Thirty fifth- and sixth graders were administered the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory before and after participating in a seven-week distance running program. A marked increase in self-concept was noted. (SJL)

The study compared the written expression of 56 fourth to fifth grade remedial readers and achieving readers. Significant differences favoring the achieving readers were found in three areas: productivity, syntax, and level of ideation. Remedial readers tended toward the same kinds of errors as achieving readers but with an increased frequency.…

In this study, 46 normal and 39 developmentally handicapped intermediate-grade students were administered the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, the Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form, and Draw A Person: A Quantitative Scoring System, in order to probe the utility of the latter two tests in screening for mental retardation. (Author/PB)

Gifted children in grades 4 through 6 were presented with a list of 34 leadership positions and asked whether men, women, or either sex could hold that position. Analysis indicated that boys tended to have more traditional sex role stereotypes than did girls. (Author/DB)

The long-term promise of cooperative learning may quickly dissolve unless there is careful examination of issues related to successful practices. The article defines a context for cooperative learning and links its current popularity to middle school theory and philosophy, young adolescent characteristics, research claims, and simple application.…

For over three years, University of Arizona staff have been reviewing middle school curricular materials in various content areas to identify exemplary models. Study disclosed only 1 exemplary mathematics curriculum (18-year-old Real Math series by Open Court) and only 1 superior science curriculum (Canadian Science Plus series). No comprehensive…

Shares American Indians' reactions to "Little House on the Prairie," provides a short description of critical pedagogy and critical literacy, and then shares fifth-graders' responses to the book and their move toward critical reading. Concludes with five suggestions for working with historical fiction. (SG)

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the largest, most comprehensive, and rigorous international study of schools and student achievement ever conducted. During the 1995 school year, the study tested the mathematics and science knowledge of a half-million students from 41 nations at five different grade levels. This…

Pushing Excellence in Pupils (PEP) was established in Dallas to provide instructional services for intermediate level (grades 4-6) black students identified as talented and gifted. This report discusses the descriptive analysis and results of a needs assessment to be used as decision making data for PEP curriculum development. A questionnaire was…