Describes the organizational framework and implementation of a literature-based reading program with basal themes for a combination of students in grades five and six. Discusses students' attitudes towards the program, which were very positive. (SR)

Expeditionary Learning, a curriculum inspired by the founders of Outward Bound, challenges teachers to get students to investigate real-life issues and, in the process, develop solid academic skills. The curriculum, adopted by 38 schools in 12 states, is credited with "significant increases" in students' standardized test scores. (MLF)

Offers an interpretive case study designed to provide insights about students' thoughts, feelings, and actions when not initially motivated for literacy tasks, and ways in which some students were able to become intrinsically interested. Reveals three different patterns of engagement (or lack thereof), represented in three different "Situations"…

Outlines a process drama in which fourth graders play scientists grappling with moral decisions. Describes the students' enthusiasm at acting and following through on their parts. Explains that after the drama, the teacher and students reflect on how it followed or failed to follow dramatic story elements. (PM)

Notes how the authors visited a sixth-grade classroom in an urban setting to teach students about jazz using children's literature. Describes how they played the music, talked about its basic structure and unique characteristics, read books aloud about the major musicians, and encouraged the students to experience the music for themselves. (SG)

Results are reported from a study which compared attitudes of fourth and fifth grade children (N=414) toward physical activity in classes taught by specialists (N=4) versus those taught by nonspecialists (N=7). Findings suggest that teachers play a minimal role in children's attitudes toward physical activity. (IAH)

Interviews with over 100 middle-school youngsters reveals these adolescents' rich, multidimensional understanding of caring. However, classroom observations showed that most teacher/student interactions were neutral. Students defined caring teacher behaviors as helping with schoolwork, valuing individuality, showing respect, being tolerant,…

Finds that academic preferences of students in grades five, six, and eight for mathematics were near the midpoint of Mathematics Preference Index, whereas those for seventh graders were substantially below it. Shows a preference for mathematics to be negatively correlated with measures of academic achievement. (SR)

Intermediate-grade gifted students (n=139) who participated in the Future Problem Solving Program were compared to other gifted or average ability students. Participants were found to be interested in more global issues than nonparticipants and were more positive about their control over the future. (Author/JDD)

Through a review of the transition literature and a survey of 225 students about to enter middle school, the most significant anxieties identified were the following: (1) space concerns about a new and larger building, especially getting lost and being late to class; (2) contact with older and possibly rougher students; and (3) heavy homework…

Describes how a survivor of the Holocaust helped a sixth grade class understand the experiences of the Holocaust and how the class helped the survivor to reach into his own repressed pain. (PRA)

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)

Traditionally, composition teachers have offered instruction at only two points: before the writing (through lessons in grammar and style) and after the writing (through error correction and evaluation). The most important part of the learning process comes during the writing activity, when students are struggling with ideas and issues like form,…

Assessed substance use by 2,125 students in grades 4 through 12 and explored differences between students' reported substance use and parents' perceptions of student use. While all parents believed that some students were using cigarettes, alcohol, or marijuana, they underestimated percentage of students in their child's grade who reported use of…

Compares whole language, literature-based, and basal reader literacy instruction in terms of the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey, the Reader Self-Perception Scale, and the Writer Self-Perception Scale. Finds that a literature-based approach to reading and writing appeared to exert superior impact on intermediate-aged children's affective…