The performance of children on problem-solving tasks 8 years after their participation in an early education intervention was compared with that of children who did not receive the intervention. At the time of the outcome assessment, all subjects (n=60) were in middle school. One group of the subjects was selected from the middle school students…

An intensive study of one desegregated school, located in a large northeastern industrial city, specifically sought to investigate peer interactions among sixth- and seventh-grade students in a racially mixed school. The basic data-gathering strategy involved observations conducted in classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, and the cafeteria. Observers…

A conceptual framework for the study of teachers' sense of efficacy was used to determine the extent to which teachers believed they could influence student learning. The framework was based on an extensive review of research literature on teaching, an ethnographic comparison of 2 organizationally different middle schools, and a process-product…

This document reports on the Teacher Efficacy Study, an investigation of teachers' sense of efficacy and the extent to which teachers believe that they can have a positive effect on student learning and achievement. Chapters discuss: (1) overview of the Teacher Efficacy Study; (2) the conceptual framework used for the investigation; (3) the…

Developed for use primarily with middle school age students, this introductory booklet provides a sample of innovative activities that integrate mathematics skills with science processes. The investigations employ a wide variety of readily available and easily understood materials. The 25 activities are sequenced from simple to complex according…

The Proceedings Journal contains 13 articles presented at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting as part of the Arts and Learning Special Interest Group program. Individual articles and their authors are: "A Descriptive and Analytical Study of Art Criticism Formats with Implications for Curricular Implementation" by…

This is a series of research projects that can be used for enrichment of the middle school mathematics curriculum. It is suggested that the topics are either not found in the standard curriculum or represent a more indepth study of standard topics. The areas considered are: microcomputer programs; divisibility; magic squares; pentominoes; the…

An overview is provided of the development of the Dallas County Community College District's (DCCCD's) Community Development Program, highlighting its accomplishments during its first two and one-half years of operation, and the District's plans for the future. Section I offers introductory comments and defines community development as the process…

This unit is based on the premise that science was developed for the purpose of describing and explaining natural phenomena. This means that an important part of teaching science consists of giving students the chance to practice their own descriptions and explanations. This unit was specifically designed to help middle school students acquire an…

This unit is based on the premise that science was developed for the purpose of describing and explaining natural phenomena. This means that an important part of teaching science consists of giving students the chance to practice their own descriptions and explanations. This unit contains many questions that require students to write out…

This guidebook presents a variety of dropout prevention strategies and is intended to help readers determine which strategies are best suited for a particular classroom, school, or district. The primary audience is school personnel who work with young adolescents. It begins by addressing major dropout issues, primary research findings, and…

A study analyzed current perceptions of selected school board members, superintendents, principals, counselors, teachers, preservice teachers, students, and parents, in three areas of Texas representing urban, suburban, and rural areas (N=190), toward topics related to discipline, classroom management, drugs, absenteeism, and behavioral…

This paper describes the activities and experiences of a technical assistance consultant working with a superintendent and assistant superintendent to implement the Achievement Directed Leadership (ADL) school improvement program during 1981-82. The paper's first section describes the ADL program's "top-down" implementation plan, with…

The purpose of this study is to shift the focus of research away from problems faced by administrators making reduction in force or reassignment/rank reduction policies to a consideration of the experiences of those affected by such policies. Following descriptions of the study's open-ended ethnographic interviewing technique, the criteria for…

The educational failure of ethnic minority children in the industrialized countries has persuaded some educators of the need to incorporate multicultural perspectives into the mathematics curriculum. All societies have developed mathematical practices appropriate to their daily lives and cultures, an area of mathematics known as…