This paper presents an overview of the state of the art in attitude assessment of young children toward school and school-related activities. The focus is on preschool children, aged four, through second grade children. Various problems of attitude assessment are presented and techniques of attitude measurement such as (1) teacher ratings, (2)…

In an investigation of Australia's declining rate of college bound students, a social psychological model of academic attainment (linking students' social origins to school experiences, perceptions of others' support, self-assessment, and high schools seniors' aspirations and grades) is applied to the processes used by students in adjusting to…

The first year of college represents an enormous milestone in students' lives. Whether attending a four-year or two-year institution of higher education, living on campus or at home, or enrolled in a highly selective school or a college with an open-admissions policy, students are challenged in unique and demanding ways during their first year.…

Comprised of excerpts from the Responsive Classroom Newsletter, this book details practices for use during the beginning of the elementary school year to build a foundation for a successful school year. Chapter 1, "The First Six Weeks of School: Building the Foundation for a Successful Year" (Ruth Charney and Marlynn Clayton) introduces…

The effectiveness of formal mentoring programs for high-risk undergraduate students was examined. Formal mentoring is defined as a deliberate matching of university personnel with high-risk students, a group which may include people of color, women, low-income persons, the physically challenged, and first-generation college students. Formal…

Noting that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of West Indian immigrants to the United States, this paper discusses factors affecting the acculturation of Jamaican immigrant children in the American educational system, highlighting factors relating to poor performance of these immigrant children. The paper first provides an…

This case study of a program for Taiwanese students at Louisiana Tech University examined the challenges and rewards of working with international students. Data for the study come from the literature on international education, interviews with Taiwanese graduate students in the program, observations of classes, personal reflections of the…

While homeschooling has grown by 1,500 percent in Wisconsin in the past 15 years, it is not a threat to traditional education in the state. Analysis of Wisconsin respondents in one national study indicates 85 percent describe themselves as "Born Again" Christians; were largely middle-class, white, two-parent families, with instruction…

Little research has been done on disability disclosure in education and employment. Instead, most research on disclosure has examined the effect disability has on the comfort level of the able-bodied. In order to explore how an adult with a disability learns to communicate to an instructor or employer what is needed for accommodation, interviews…

The Illinois Early Learning Project (IEL) is funded by the Illinois State Board of Education to provide information resources on early learning and training related to implementing the Illinois Early Learning Standards for parents and for early childhood personnel in all settings. The IEL tip sheets offer suggestions to parents and early childhood…

Looping, or multi-year teaching, is the pedagogical practice of allowing students and teachers to remain together for 2 or more years. This 2-year case study investigated looping practices and perceptions of looping among eighth-grade middle school students, teachers, and parents. Data from two middle schools were collected in the second year of…

Describes results of a survey of 85 California community college students who transferred to four-year institutions. Students were highly satisfied with their academic preparation but desired more information on the transfer process. Demographic data, ratings of adjustment experiences, and student academic standings are included. Appendix includes…

Describes the beliefs, knowledge, and classroom practices of a successful bilingual special educator, noting factors that shaped her teaching, including her own experiences as a second-language learner. Notes the teacher's emphasis on interactive teaching that weaves students' first language and culture with direct instruction, practice, and…

Studied effects at grade 4 of early grade retention for 1,255 low-income mostly African-American children (20.4 percent had been retained from kindergarten to grade 3). Retention negatively affected cognitive reading and mathematics achievement, had no relation to teacher ratings of school adjustment, and positively affected children's perceived…

A survey of 194 social work graduate students investigated the effects of part- or full-time enrollment status, employment status, marital status, and other roles on psychological adjustment. Results are discussed in light of scarcity and expansion hypotheses derived from role theory, and practical implications for social work education are…