Nearly 90% of intermediate and middle school students from low-income families in the United States are not proficient in reading. This action research project used a quasi-experimental design to determine the effectiveness of a multi-component reading intervention program for students in grades four through eight at Mother of Sorrows Catholic…

The purpose of this research project was to increase constructive behavior of intermediate grade students through the use of the response cost strategy. Approximately 70 students participated in this study. Three teacher researchers conducted the research in an elementary school and two middle schools in different counties near a major mid-western…

This paper describes a program to increase motivation and interest in social studies among fourth-grade students in a growing middle class community in central Illinois. The lack of motivation and disinterest in social studies is evidenced by student attitude surveys, teacher surveys, teacher observations of student time on task, and student…

McDougal, Littell and Company has designed the geography program called "Daily Geography" which incorporates geography into the daily social studies curriculum. "Daily Geography" aims to increase students' knowledge and understanding of the physical aspects of geography. A study tested the "Daily Geography" program to…

A program was developed to improve the attitudes of elementary students toward the artistic experience and the end products of artistic creativity. The targeted population consisted of fifth grade students at a Midwestern elementary school in an affluent suburb. A low level of interest was exhibited by students toward the artwork they produced.…

An action research project was conducted in a fourth-grade classroom (21 students) to determine whether collaboratively created rubrics and authentic assessment strategies such as simulations, portfolios, and models are valid, authentic, and equitable measurement tools that will raise a student's self-esteem through the assessment process. An…

Collaborating with her chemistry teacher, a high school student examined whether students who took reformed middle school science differed from students in regular science in grades, attitudes, and evaluation of science learning. Surveys indicated that students from the reformed program rated science significantly higher, felt better prepared for…

Describes the impact of using dialog journals in English-as-a-Second-Language classes on sixth graders who lacked confidence in their writing ability. Results showed a positive effect of modeling, improved writing attitudes, and a new human dimension to a previously hierarchical teacher-student relationship. (SM)

Meteorology, the science of weather and weather conditions, has traditionally been taught via textbook and rote demonstration. This study was intended to determine to what degree utilizing technology in the study of meteorology improves students' attitudes towards science and to measure to what extent technology in meteorology increases…

Describes an action research project that explored whether internally negotiated group control was possible among preadolescents in school settings. Presents John Dewey's thoughts on social control. Discusses study of students' perspectives and actions concerning authority issues and social control. Describes a social studies curriculum used to…

A program was designed and implemented to improve vocabulary knowledge and attitudes toward reading by focusing on direct vocabulary instruction. The targeted population consisted of 23 fourth grade students in a middle-class suburb north of Chicago. The community is very multicultural, so many of the students speak English as a second language.…

Two classroom research studies of fourth graders employed group grading to increase cooperation among group members and mathematics test scores of low achievers. Results indicated that group grading was more effective with students who enjoyed working in groups and who accepted the method of assessment than with students who did not like group…

Results of action research involving 30 middle school students from Detroit indicated that all the students were concerned about classic environmental issues. Three ways of thinking about pollution and environmental problems emerged: (1) the personalistic view; (2) the technocratic view; and (3) the politicized view. (Contains 40 references.) (MDH)

This report describes instructional strategies to improve the revising and editing skills of sixth grade students during the writing process. The literature review suggested improved instruction and evaluation through a writing workshop approach as a possible solution to the problem of poor revision skills. Within this structure, research also…

This paper describes the implementation and development of a program promoting gender equity in the classroom and the lessening of stereotypical attitudes toward gender. Gender equity issues affected most of the students in the targeted intermediate and secondary special needs and general population. Male and female students exhibited…