Many have claimed that teachers' verbal ability is among the most important predictors of school outcomes. Teachers' verbal ability has been thought to predict student achievement ever since the relationship was found in the classic "Equality of Educational Opportunity" (EEO) study by Coleman et al. By way of meta-analysis the authors examine the…

Examined and confirmed were the positive effects on achievement of a multisensory, hands-on review experience at the Kansas Health Museum on the comprehension and application of knowledge and concepts about the human body by sixth-grade students as compared to a classroom review of the same information. (CS)

Interviews conducted with each of 35 sixth graders who made errors on the Metropolitan Achievement Test showed little evidence that poor reading abilities affected children's success on word problems. (DT)

This study looked at student difficulties with fractions by focusing on understanding of part/whole relationships. The sample consisted of two sixth-grade and two eighth-grade classes. A lack of substantial improvement from sixth to eighth grade on many fraction tasks was noted and viewed as cause for concern. (MP)

Students in seven grade six and eight grade eight classes were involved in this study in which the effect of two versions of the "Mastermind" game on logical reasoning were compared. No differential effects on test performance were found, nor did playing the games promote improved formal reasoning skills. (MNS)

A survey of 6th and 12th grade students in a Midwest school district reveals largely indifferent or negative attitudes toward social studies subjects. Forty-six students responded to questions which asked them to name the most important, favorite, and least favorite subjects and to recall what was interesting and uninteresting in former social…

The purpose of this study involving 12 classrooms was twofold: (1) to understand the conceptual frameworks that sixth-grade students use to explain the nature of matter and molecules, and (2) to assess the effectiveness of 2 alternative curriculum units in promoting students' scientific understanding. Results reveal that students' entering…

This study explores students' conceptual thinking by examining the extent and complexity of their concept identification and organization in geography. The study investigated students' conceptual thinking through identification of salient geography concepts and construction of individual concept maps at three academic achievement and grade levels.…

This project was designed to develop a combinational strategy using microcomputers and cross-aged instruction designed to: (1) increase the achievement of low-achieving sixth-grade students; (2) increase enrollment in high school mathematics and science courses; (3) evaluate microcomputers as a unique instructional tool; and (4) develop effective…

A representative sample of study skills necessary for using maps, graphs and tables, and references was selected, and criterion-referenced tests assessing those skills were administered to sixth, ninth, and twelfth graders. Because the tests were criterion-referenced, no time limits were set and all students had ample opportunity to complete each…

Describes a study devised to determine what changes occur in young adults' attitudes toward computers as a result of a computer training program and whether attitudes of boys and girls differ significantly before or after a computer training program. Data indicate girls on average have decidedly less positive attitudes than boys. (MBR)

The compositions of sixth, tenth, and twelfth grade students were used to determine whether narrations or arguments of high syntactic complexity were rated higher than narrations or arguments of low syntactic complexity. Selection of the compositions was made in pairs--one of high syntactic complexity and one of low syntactic complexity--each…

These guidelines for conducting oral history projects are the result of the first efforts at school history of sixth-grade students at the Southside Elementary School, Columbus. While the guidelines stem from a project on a specific topic, they would be useful to students (even students beyond the sixth grade) who wish to do oral history work.…

Presents results of statewide survey of knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of California sixth- and twelfth-grade students in computer science and computer literacy during 1982-83 school year. Boys displayed higher levels of achievement, more computer exposure at home and school, and more positive attitudes towards the role of computers in the…

Experience with a number of teachers has shown that when they became aware of the uses of the categorizing processes, their teaching became more focused, they took account of student prior experience to a greater extent, and they allowed more time for students to practice the language needed to complete a task. A study was conducted to determine…