Critiques the current concept of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as it applies to primary school boys and girls. The article defines ADHD, presents a model of developmental contextualization, and shows ways in which theory can overcome limitations in current conceptualizations of ADHD and guide future pedagogy and research. (GR)

Teachers with direct and indirect teaching styles were paired with students who were high or low on social-emotional development, to create congruent and incongruent matches. Congruency was consistently related to instructional outcome with the effect strongest for student affect, followed by achievement, and then attention to task. Findings…

The study compared performance on the Continuous Performance Task by 18 elementary grade children having attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH), 15 conduct disordered, 26 mixed conduct disorder and ADDH, 15 emotionally disturbed, 22 learning disabled, and 15 nondisabled students. Hyperactive children did not demonstrate a unique…

Results indicated that the attentiveness of performers in a university symphonic band was a function of both performance time and treatment. Student attitudes were related significantly to music, conductors, and their interaction. (Author/RM)

Background: Using longitudinal data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, we examined behavior problems and social and academic outcomes from ages 9 through 12 in children classified into five trajectories of physical aggression, on the basis of maternal ratings obtained from 24 months through 9 years (N = 1195). Methods:…

This report offers some concepts and procedures intended to help teachers in motivating students to physically, cognitively, and behaviorally attend to academic tasks in the classroom setting. A discussion is presented on the importance of assessing and identifying the academic behaviors and subject skills that each student can successfully…

Studies fourth grade students to test a goodness-of-fit model of temperament. Children responded to the Dimensions of Temperament Survey (DOTS). Teachers specified demands/expectations for their students for each of the DOTS attributes and rated students' academic ability and adjustment. Objective measures of academic achievement were also…

Currently, age is the primary indicator of kindergarten readiness. A concise list of readiness skills to guide parents and teachers when deciding if a child is ready for kindergarten is lacking. The literature reveals that older age kindergarten entrance is not a predictor of academic success, nor is age an accurate indicator of readiness. In this…

Four groups of 7- to 10-year-old girls (N=37), who were either (1) hyperactive, (2) reading disabled, (3) hyperactive and reading disabled, or (4) solely attention disordered, were contrasted with male counterparts on measures of intelligence, achievement, personality, and cognitive style. Among findings were significant sex differences across…

Compared was the effectiveness of punishment and positive reinforcement on the nonattending behaviors and academic achievement of 18 elementary grade children in two special classes for children with social or adjustment problems. During the positive reinforcement condition each student earned a slash mark whenever he was observed attending to…

Research is reviewed on the effects of stimulant drugs on the classroom behavior and academic achievement of hyperactive children. Results indicate that stimulant drugs do not appreciably improve academic achievement, but are effective in improving attention span, on-task behavior, activity level, and disruptive behavior. (Author/MH)

To identify variables which inhibit social and academic adjustment, 42 kindergarten students were studied longitudinally by means of parent interviews, observation, tests, and anecdotal records. The IQ score for the group remained normal to slightly above over the 8-year period, but individual scores tended to vary more with increased age.…

Examines the engaged rates of children in kindergarten to fourth grade for differences and makes some assessment of attention span as it relates to engaged rate and achievement. (HOD)

This report describes a 12-week program designed to increase time on task for kindergarten students. Members of a targeted group of kindergarten students were identified as being off task an average of 1.9 times more than the rest of the class. A program that incorporated the dominant learning styles of students in the target group with…

Considerable research has been conducted on the effect of anxiety on academic achievement. The most consistent finding is that high anxiety is associated with low performance, particularly at the elementary school level. To explain this situation, some researchers have hypothesized that anxiety debilitates students' attention span or time-on-task…