In order to analyse whether or not the characteristic of scientific inquiry activities of textbooks in China satisfy the requirements of China's new curriculum reforms, content analysis method was adopted to analyze scientific inquiry activities in junior middle school physical textbooks (grade 8) of five editions authorized by the Chinese…

Examines the effectiveness of a school and community-based violence prevention program for at-risk eighth-grade students. School officials matched intervention students with community-based mentors in an employment setting. Findings suggest that mentored students had significant reductions in total number and days of suspensions, days of sanction,…

Solution of production or recognition format analogies requires identification of either the inference or mapping relation, but not both as postulated in Sternberg's theory. Additional findings concerning analogical reasoning processes, and a discussion of teaching implications, are included in this description of a study involving 41 eighth…

The effectiveness of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback/relaxation training on the stress management and anxiety levels of 18 eighth-grade students was tested. Chapter I serves as an introduction and presents information on the need for the study, hypotheses, limitations, and definition of terms. Chapter II contains a review of related…

This summary report provides samples from and highlights of the national assessment in arts education at the eighth-grade level conducted in 1997 by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The arts assessment measured students' literacy in the arts through their knowledge and skill in creating, performing, and responding to…

Describes a study of eighth graders that used collaborative action research to examine students' perceptions and use of HyperCard to construct a social studies report on the Renaissance. The action research process is explained; further research is discussed; and action research as a tool for teachers' professional development is considered.…

Explores relations among class size, social support, harassment of others, and emotional problems in a sample of 1,071 Norwegian eighth-graders. Results show stronger associations between perceived teacher support and peer relations, as well as between peer relations and emotional problems in small classes. Results indicate no difference between…

This paper suggests a three-step approach for motivating and enabling eighth graders to authentically attempt to comprehend assigned passages from their U.S. history textbooks. The steps are the following: (1) attempt to activate prior knowledge and interest in textual readings by using relevant materials and varied literary sources to motivate…

Eighth- and ninth-grade students underwent several forms of preparation before taking a mathematics achievement test: (1) going over practice problems (of the nature covered by the test); (2) review sessions; and (3) lecture and discussion on the importance of the test. Test preparation significantly affected mathematics achievement test…

This study explored student perspectives on their work and play at school and examined why they engage in work and play. Nineteen eighth grade students, who were predominantly white, and of the middle or upper middle class, were the subjects. The students were asked to conduct an interviewer on a grand tour and then various mini-tours of their…

The inclusion of more sociology related materials in the 8th and 9th grade civics curriculum can push the margins of civics education to a more broadly conceived notion of citizenry and make civics and sociology more relevant to students' lives. The goal should be to help students understand society, not the discipline of sociology. Sociology…

This paper reports on a project involving student recall of the dialogue in a movie and retention of the "anchor," which in this case refers to a videotape recording of "To Kill a Mockingbird." The project looked at how students retained knowledge over a few days and what kind of activities resulted from expertise with an…

Degree of lesson complexity was examined and related to the type of approach used by eighth grade teachers. Results indicated that teachers adapt to the perceived complexity of class activities and to students' behavior cues, using direct instruction more frequently in mathematics and science than in the humanities and language arts. (Author/PP)

Focusing on the achievement and motivational effects of analogies of varying enrichment levels when used with abstract, unfamiliar, and difficult content, this study examined their effects on instruction at the recall and application levels using content consisting of both concepts and principles. The subjects were 123 eighth-grade science…

Discusses knowledge base development as a pedagogical activity and describes a study of eighth graders that compared three instructional conditions: (1) expert system development work; (2) problem-solving activities using computer-assisted instruction; and (3) a control group that used traditional noncomputer methods. Pretest and posttest scores…