Investigated hopelessness in 8-, 12-, and 17-year-olds (N=210). Found children with high hopelessness scores at greater risk for suicide and depression and for overall psychopathology. Results suggest that hopelessness does not increase from preadolescence to adolescence in general population. (Author/CM)

The study compared the written expression of 56 fourth to fifth grade remedial readers and achieving readers. Significant differences favoring the achieving readers were found in three areas: productivity, syntax, and level of ideation. Remedial readers tended toward the same kinds of errors as achieving readers but with an increased frequency.…

Microanalysis of problem-solving activities of 10 learning-disabled and 10 normally achieving children (ages 10-12) found that, although normally achieving subjects reached more sophisticated levels of strategy use, there was no evidence that the learning-disabled subjects were inactive, passive, or maladaptive in their problem-solving attempts.…

In this study, 46 normal and 39 developmentally handicapped intermediate-grade students were administered the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, the Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form, and Draw A Person: A Quantitative Scoring System, in order to probe the utility of the latter two tests in screening for mental retardation. (Author/PB)

Gifted children in grades 4 through 6 were presented with a list of 34 leadership positions and asked whether men, women, or either sex could hold that position. Analysis indicated that boys tended to have more traditional sex role stereotypes than did girls. (Author/DB)

Examines and discusses several fifth-/sixth-grade students' written responses to literature in terms of what they reveal about the writer's knowledge and understanding of how literary texts work. Suggests that students' written responses to literature can provide invaluable pedagogical information and support to encourage children in their growth…

Profiles Curt Prchal, winner of a Disney American Teacher Award. Describes his modular technology lab approach to developing higher order skills. (JOW)

Examines the relative effectiveness of dictionary definitions and definitions revised to address problems found in traditional definitions. Finds that revised definitions led to significantly more responses that demonstrated a characteristic use of the word. Concludes that revised definitions were more effective in helping students understand…

The long-term promise of cooperative learning may quickly dissolve unless there is careful examination of issues related to successful practices. The article defines a context for cooperative learning and links its current popularity to middle school theory and philosophy, young adolescent characteristics, research claims, and simple application.…

Provides some time-saving and purposeful evaluation strategies that can be used with various writing projects and reports. Explains 10 hints directed toward what to do while the student is still writing and 5 hints for grading writing. (11 references) (MLF)

Examined sibling conflict and relationship qualities among 104 10-15 year olds. Data suggest that sibling conflict fulfills several functions in early adolescence, including reinforcing family and relationship rules and delineating interpersonal boundaries. Few differences attributable to age or gender constellation of sibling dyad emerged.…

This study of 65 children (ages 10-13) with dyslexia found no discrete subgroups. Variability in performance on reading tasks was quite similar for the dyslexic and reading age-control groups. A few children with dyslexia resembled phonological dyslexics and surface dyslexics, but these subjects were still part of a continuum. (Author/JDD)

Reports on the second phase of a two-phase, two cohort componential analysis of reading. Finds a good fit for the grade four data, a reasonable fit for grade five, and a less unambiguous fit for grade six. Finds results are generally confirmed with the simultaneous structural analyses of phase one and phase two multisamples. (RS)

Presents an annotated listing of choral works by women composers. Suggests sources of information about women composers and their music. Discusses some contemporary women whose compositions are particularly appropriate for student voices. Concludes that the listed works will help place women composers in perspective for student choral groups. (SG)

For over three years, University of Arizona staff have been reviewing middle school curricular materials in various content areas to identify exemplary models. Study disclosed only 1 exemplary mathematics curriculum (18-year-old Real Math series by Open Court) and only 1 superior science curriculum (Canadian Science Plus series). No comprehensive…