Describes the creation of a theater-based program for eighth-grade students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (Georgia) Schools. Chronicles the efforts of playwright Ed Shockley to write a play focusing on teen violence and aimed at eighth-grade students. Concludes that the program and the play succeeded in accomplishing their goals. Relates three…

Uses data from the North Carolina End-of-Grade test of eighth-grade mathematics to estimate the achievement results on the scale of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Trial State Assessment. Uses linear regression models to develop projection equations to predict state NAEP results. (SLD)

This report was prepared in compliance with Chapter 4, Article 2.3 of the California Education Code. Section 48644.3 directs the State Department of Education to evaluate the increase in availability of opportunity classes and programs in grades 7 through 9. The report has four sections. Section I, Introduction, chronicles events prior to…

Describes six high-achieving eighth-grade students asked to write a report about a significant person they would like as a mentor in high school. Finds the students chose their topics rapidly, and all but one created a task impression of the assigned report with little difficulty, using both content- and procedural-related goals to accomplish…

A national survey of state-articulated student goals and outcomes led to the analysis of documents from 30 states for correspondence with the outcomes specified for grade 8 in the conceptual model developed by the National Center on Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities (NCEO). All of the 30 states' goal documents included statements…

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) surveyed teachers and school administrators and conducted an in-depth analysis of mathematics and science curricula as well as investigating traditional student assessment of eighth grade students in 40 countries. The differences in key aspects of the educational systems in those…

Considers social and ethnic inequity in access to resources for mathematics learning in eighth grade using data from 41 states and territories participating in the 1992 Trial State Assessment of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Findings indicate that state differences in access to key educational resources are important. (SLD)

Students enrolled in elementary French at grade 8 of the Ontario school system were tested to determine whether a lengthening of the daily session devoted to French from 20 to 40 minutes resulted in increased proficiency. Data make it apparent that increasing the amount of instructional time has produced a significant improvement in students'…

In 1995, the state of Minnesota participated in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), oversampling students to permit comparison with the United States as a whole and with other participating nations. The data generated by the assessment and its subsequent analyses provide informative insights as well as suggest questions…

The North Carolina End-of-Grade (NCEOG) Test of Mathematics, Grade 8 was compared to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)--Grade 8 along three dimensions: technical, content, and cognitive. An expert panel of six judges (mathematics educators) examined the supporting documents, the content frameworks, the items, and actual test…

The properties of Tucker's congruence coefficient--an index used to help determine the equality of latent structures for different subgroups on a common set of test items--are explored. An example using data from 1,370 subjects in the National Assessment of Educational Progress 1976 mathematics assessment illustrates the index's use. (SLD)

An inservice consultation program between teachers and a school psychologist was designed to establish classroom conditions to improve 7th- and 8th-grade students' (N=233) thinking skills. Inservice training conducted by the psychologist emphasized encouragement of ideas, modeling thinking skills, opportunities for practice, and support of diverse…

A study of 80 eighth grade students investigated whether incorporation of a African-American music program would have special benefits for African-American students, music-experienced students, or high-musical-ability students. African-American students, taught material consistent with their heritage, performed better than whites. It is concluded…

A many-faceted Rasch model (FACETS) is presented for the measurement of writing ability. The FACETS model is a multivariate extension of Rasch measurement models that can be used to provide a framework for calibrating both raters and writing tasks within the context of writing assessment. A FACETS model is described based on the current procedures…

Examines the relation between eighth graders' involvement in a variety of musical activities and their achievement in music using data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress 1997 Arts Assessment in Music. Data show the relationship between involvement and achievement. (Author/SLD)