This research focuses on the interaction between students' domain-specific expectancies and values as a predictor of test anxiety. A subsample of adolescents from the MSALT dataset are used in the current study; students complete measures during the spring of sixth grade and again during the spring of seventh grade. Overall, findings provide…

Describes a "literary gift exchange" in which students buy or make gifts for other students' favorite literary characters and explain to the class why the gifts are appropriate. Argues that the gift exchange is a good way to end the school year and review the literature studied. (RS)

Describes a three-week "Introduction to Language" unit for seventh graders. Notes that students feel ownership of the unit because of the amount of choice and sharing involved. Describes the unit's mini-lessons: human language; origins and development of language; symbols and words; meaning in context; and growth and change in language. (RS)

Presents a five-step series of lessons which introduce seventh-grade language arts students to literary criticism and analysis as they progress through a text, moving from surface evaluation to thoughtful analysis. (SR)

Describes a study which examined the stability of both cognitive and affective "aptitudes" as they relate to learning. Seventh-grade students learned language concepts for 5 weeks and 3 achievement measures were administered. Analysis of aptitude-achievement relations indicate some aptitudes relate differentially to achievement during learning.…

This document deals with testing in intermediate communication arts for seventh graders in Missouri public schools. The document contains the following items from the Session 1 Test Booklet: "Swimming in Snow" (Diana C. Conway) (Items 1, 2, and 5); "Discovery" (Marion Dane Bauer) (Item 13); writing prompt; and a writer's…

This document deals with testing in intermediate communication arts for seventh graders in Missouri public schools. The document contains the following items from the Test Booklet: "Under the Rice Moon" (Rhiannon Puck); "Dogspirit" (Gary Paulsen) (Session 1, Items 4, 5, 6, and 8); a writing prompt; and a writer's checklist. It…

This document deals with testing in communication arts for seventh graders in Missouri public schools. The document first provides an article about adventures on and around an island near the coast of Nova Scotia entitled "The Secret of the Oak Island Money Pit" (Sharon Barry). The document instructs students to read the article and then…

Argues that drama is one of the most powerful teaching strategies available in the classroom, in all subject areas. Notes reasons drama is not used much. Describes two drama activities used with seventh-grade students, and how they used it (with excitement) as a way of experiencing, thinking through and representing new understandings. (SR)

A practicum used a new learning tool to enhance long-term retention of new vocabulary. Sixteen seventh-graders in Language Arts, who had a long-term retention mean score of approximately 40% of newly learned vocabulary, increased their long-term retention of new vocabulary by 25% (a new mean of 65% of new vocabulary). Additional objectives…

Describes how a seventh-grade teacher incorporated all the strands of language arts in a science unit on butterflies. Discusses insights learned in this journey of learning that honored the mystery of science as "knowing." Describes how teacher and students became actively engaged in a pedagogic experience that acknowledged the connections between…

Describes a project for 7th graders that involves English and Texas history classes, and that includes 19th-century Texas history, several types of writing, and a great deal of creativity. (SR)

A REALISTIC LOOK AT STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS AND EARLY OBSERVATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN SILENT AND ORAL READING SITUATIONS REVEALED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE 7TH AND 8TH GRADE PUPILS WERE DISABLED READERS. SIX SPECIFIC AIMS WERE--REFINING COMPREHENSION SKILLS, EXTENDING INTERESTS AND RECOGNITION SKILLS, IMPROVING READING, STRENGTHENING WORD…

Describes an unusual set of circumstances that paved the way for an interdisciplinary year-long United States History course involving reading and language arts that relied heavily on trade books to support the curriculum. Describes choosing the books and using them in the program. (SR)

Describes how a teacher shared her love of poetry once a week with a class of seventh-grade students who hated poetry, and how, in a few short months, students who had hated poetry for years became poetry lovers. (SR)