Certain grouping arrangements in elementary and secondary schools appear to be instructionally effective for students, but the psychological drawbacks may offset any advantages. The relative benefits and disadvantages of within-class grouping and between-class grouping are discussed, along with the problems with ability grouping. (TE)

Describes some of the educational work among Vietnamese refugees which is being done in England, and the problems which exist. Considerations include transient populations, variations in knowledge of the English language, child care, a large age range, and scheduling class time aroung other duties. (CT)

High school teaching practices have resisted change since 1900 and remain essentially teacher centered. This stability may be explained by: (1) the deterministic influence of classroom organizational structures; (2) innate conservatism in teaching; (3) teachers' enduring beliefs about educational goals; and (4) society's economic structure which…

The use of alternative instructional strategies and resources to meet the learning needs of individual students incorporates the diagnosis of student learning progress, the teaching of self-management skills, organizational supports, and family involvement into an effective educational program. (JN)

People know that coaching for verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests can improve scores, although gains can be modest. Nevertheless, scores on retaking such tests can remain stable or even decrease following coaching. People do not know if such findings apply to coaching for tests of attainment. However, research into formative assessment shows…

Implications of social psychological theory and research, particularly in the area of social influence, are examined to provide a theoretical foundation for cross-age tutoring programs. Areas discussed include the effectiveness of various bases of social influence and the effects of tutoring programs on students, tutors, and teachers. (Author/SJL)

A study of the use of print materials in the Capital University (Ohio) Library's Reserve Department revealed 29% of the faculty use its services for classroom instruction. Two factors that contribute to the department's heavy faculty and student use are class design and use of reserve materials in courses. (AEF)

Within the Caribbean context, the island of Montserrat included, ability grouping has been employed as the major organizational strategy to address academic deficiencies among high school students. Although no sound philosophical basis for this type of class/group organization has been enunciated, recent research has shown that students with poor…

This literature review concerns the concept of alternative grade configurations at the elementary level, in which elementary schools are subdivided into primary (K-2) and intermediate (3-5) units. Because of the paucity of literature on this concept, the major part of the report focuses on the reorganization of the elementary schools of the South…

This paper provides an orientation to learning centers for middle school teachers. A description is given of the characteristics of a learning center and the kinds of student activities that can best be conducted in an area set apart for individual or small group projects. Benefits from using learning centers, are cited, such as added variety to…

This is an evaluation report on a Title I nonpublic school corrective mathematics program conducted in New York City in 1979-1980. Chapter I provides a description of the program and its goals. In chapter two the objectives and tests used are outlined by grade, and information is given on the analysis of evaluation results. The third chapter…

Analyzes a case of a struggling student writer who was not helped by good classroom techniques. Proposes that for educators to help struggling writers, they need to focus on both the student and the activity system within which the student works. Concludes that educators need to take account of: teachers' and children's ideas; organization for…

Cooperative group learning involves organizing students in small heterogeneous groups to work on academic assignments. This paper reports a staff development project to implement cooperative group learning for 417 general education middle school and junior high school students, including 41 special education students. To impart cooperative…

To identify which needs of the Hart County schools were most important to community members, a study was undertaken using information from a community needs assessment meeting with 28 citizens in Munfordville (Kentucky) in December, 1987. The information used included the top-ranked 25% of individual need statements and all 71 need statements.…

This is an evaluation report on a Title I non-public schools reading skills program that served students in grades 4-8 in New York City in 1979-1980. The program's goal was to provide individualized diagnostic prescriptive reading and writing skills instruction for severely disabled readers. Section one of the evaluation provides a description of…