This study of mathematics and science attitudes of 117 African-American gifted middle grade students found significant gender differences in attitude toward success in mathematics and perceptions of mathematics as a male domain. No significant grade differences or interactions were found in any of the variables. (Author/JDD)

This study examined determinants of underachievement perceived by 148 gifted and nongifted black students in grades 5 and 6. Findings suggest that psychological factors and peer pressures played the greatest role in underachievement and indicate the existence of a paradox of underachievement whereby black underachievers support the achievement…

What happens in a classroom that fosters the Harvard Project Zero teaching for understanding framework? That is the initial inquiry for this pilot ethnographic study of African American fifth graders in an urban public school. The study sets out to show how children are engaged in a class set up to understand science and mathematics. Themes…

Examined the effect of communal learning, peer tutoring, and individual learning on the text recall of African American fifth graders. Students completed surveys assessing their preference for communal beliefs and behaviors, participated in groups, and recalled text. Communal learning group students recalled the most text. Communal beliefs…

Tells the story of three African American children's responses to literature by and about African Americans, showing the importance of connecting literature to the lives and interests of children. (SR)

This study investigated African-American student response to images of African-Americans in picture books. Study participants included 20 fifth-grade students, 9 girls and 11 boys. The study used five picture books featuring African-Americans as main characters and ranked the books on a continuum from "most positive" to "most…

This study explored the influences of social, psychological, and cultural determinants of underachievement as perceived by 148 intermediate grade African-American students in gifted, above average, or average academic programs. Psychological factors played the greatest role in underachievement or poor achievement motivation. Underachievement…

This study identifies and describes the interest patterns of 218 fourth and fifth grade children in two schools in Baton Rouge, Louisiana--one black Title I school, one white suburban school--as they pertain to the content and technique of the short film, and to determine whether these interest were related to sex, or race-socioeconomic status.…

This study examines influences on the high reading achievement of two low-income, African American fifth graders, both girls, and both of whom lived with their grandmothers. Data came from interviews with the students, their teachers, and their custodial guardians and from observations of the students at school and at home. Results indicated that…

Interviews with 148 African-American fifth- and sixth-grade students (in either gifted, above average, or average academic programs) found that gifted students, regardless of gender, were most supportive of the U.S. achievement ideology, and average students were least supportive. Discrepancies between beliefs about hard work and success and…

Compared determinants of physical activity in active and low-active African-American sixth graders, surveying students and making objective assessments of physical activity over seven days. Results indicated that physical activity self-efficacy, beliefs about physical activity outcomes, involvement in community-based physical activity, perception…

A study determined the effects of a pedagogical approach using rap music on the learning of musical forms among urban African American youth and whether there were differential effects among students of different levels of self-esteem. Urban African American youth (n=66) from the St. Louis County Public Schools who were enrolled in general music…

Conducted study of 104 fourth grade children's concepts of old people/extended family. Anglo-Americans were significantly more likely to include extended family in concept of family; Anglo-Canadians had significantly higher level of age discrimination ability; and African Americans showed trend toward more positive attitudes toward older people.…

An attributional intervention was designed to reduce aggressive males' tendency to attribute hostile intentions to peers and their concomitant reactive aggression. Subjects were 162 African-American and Latino elementary school boys--aggressive and nonaggressive--in grades 3 through 6. Subjects were randomly assigned to the attributional…

Investigated smoking and tobacco-chewing habits of sixth and seventh graders (n=433). Students reported own tobacco use, perceptions of use among peers and friends, parental socioeconomic status, and other variables. Results indicated one-third of respondents had used some form of tobacco at least once. Norm perceptions and best friend's habits…