In an effort to determine if achievement gains of low-achieving Chapter 1 students could be bettered, the Austin Independent School District implemented Chapter 1 Schoolwide Projects (SWP) in two schools to reduce class size to 15 pupils per teacher. SWP teachers functioned as regular classroom teachers with students of mixed achievement. Chapter…

An action research project was developed and implemented using student self monitoring of higher order thinking skills and task management to improve the music skills of a fifth grade beginning band (n=30) from a small middle school located in a rural midwest village. Evidence of the problem was documented with a performance test, a written test,…

Describes one aspect of an evaluation of an action-planning initiative to improve pupils' learning in Year 9, focusing on Personal Learning Planning (PLP). Reveals that students did not link PLP with fundamental aspects of effective learning and that outcomes differed for boys and girls. Includes references. (CMK)

Investigates fourth-grade students' achievement following a model unit on American Indian music that utilized four different instructional approaches. Suggests implications for instruction with American Indian music regarding instructional approach, authenticity of instrument materials, learning from a native guest artist, and music teacher…

This paper examines the results of a cross-sectional study focusing on teacher beliefs and opinions about teaching. Orientations to teaching of students in undergraduate teacher preparation programs at Michigan State University (MSU) and experienced classroom teachers are described. Two central questions were addressed: (1) How do the opinions and…

Although college counseling agencies serve many clients, published accounts of counseling outcomes in these agencies are relatively rare. An important aspect of counseling evaluation is the client's resolution of presenting and subsequent problems. This study investigated the impact of counseling on university students using a measure of symptom…

A longitudinal investigation was conducted on the development of conservation skills in learning disabled (LD) children. During each of 3 years, six measures of conservation from the Concept Assessment Kit (space, number, substance, weight, continuous quantity, and discontinuous quantity) were administered to 31 newly identified LD students and 33…

Schools typically place a high value on the dominant middle-class approach to becoming literate: they expect all children to arrive at school familiar with books and able to discuss stories. However, community use of printed materials varies, resulting in a large number of nonmainstream children deemed at risk for school failure at an early age.…

Five teachers, whose experience and reputations recommended them as successful writing teachers, but who used different methods in their freshman composition course, were asked to test their classes at the beginning and end of the course on writing ability and writing anxiety. The pre- and post-testing was accomplished through a written essay,…

A study of the writing of 11 minority group students in a college biology class explored two questions: (1) how the difference between well-shaped and poorly shaped writing could be described, and (2) how the various pieces of writing of an individual student could be compared. The study concentrated on a contrastive analysis of two pairs of…

Two sentence-combining tests and one piece of free writing per student provided the data in a study designed to determine whether the heavy writing emphasis given British children in their elementary years gives them significantly greater writing skill than their counterparts in the United States, who write comparatively infrequently. The data…

Reports on a study that compares the performance of students enrolled in two sections of a Web-based computer networking course: one utilizing a simulation package and the second utilizing a static, graphical software package. Analysis shows statistically significant improvements in performance in the simulation group compared to the…

Compares results of story telling to kindergarten students using text only, helpful video, and minimal video. Results indicate that multimedia technologies are valuable tools for supporting the development of story comprehension, mental model building, and literacy in young children who are at-risk for school failure. Sample stories used in…

Examines school performance across three grades on both individually administered reading tests and state-mandated standardized tests between students of a Success for All (SFA) program and controls. Results show more positive effects for SFA students, some decline in effects over time, and greater effects for minority than for nonminority…

The Test of Auditory Comprehension of Language was used to evaluate language comprehension of Chicano and Anglo kindergarten children in rural Wyoming. Children were tested upon entering kindergarten and after 20 weeks of regular instruction. Both groups made significant gains; Anglo children did significantly better than Chicanos on both tests.…