Tells how children's performances on informal spelling and writing tasks can be analyzed to develop appropriate instructional activities. Argues that the real utility of assessment procedures comes from the qualitative interpretation that a sensitive diagnostician makes, based on a knowledge of the student and of the process of reading. (AEA)

Reports on the implementation of an adolescent group psychotherapy process. (RH)

Designed for the evaluation of the reading ability of handicapped students, the reading style checklist (RSC) is presented along with lists of abilities a student would need in order to learn to read using different reading methods. (PHR)

Peer observation activities conducted by college faculty working collaboratively have the potential to improve instruction. (JD)

Suggests that a direct approach to developing positive job attitudes can be successful in office machines classes, as well as others offering individualized instruction. Includes checklists to stimulate thinking and to make students aware of positive job attitudes and work habits. (JOW)

This investigation studied the relationship between both GCE O-level examination grades and teachers' estimates of A-level examination grades, and actual A-level grades obtained by a sample of university applicants. Moderate levels of correlation were reported in both cases, although teachers' estimates appeared to be slightly better predictors.…

Notes the disagreements that occur between business communication teachers, their peers, and their students about the evaluation and grading of student work. Initiates a larger study of this problem by asking readers to rank seven business letters written by college students. (RL)

Offers suggestions for informal formative assessment for the mathematics classroom. Describes classroom activities that allow teachers to assess students' mathematical content knowledge, mathematical processes, and mathematical dispositions. Argues that formative assessment is part of good teaching, making instruction more targeted and more…

Offers an overview of the steps taken by Orange County Public Schools in Florida to move to a portfolio approach to literacy assessment. (MG)

Discusses social competence in young children and its implications for social and academic adjustment later in life. Suggests methods which teachers can use to assess social competence and to help children develop social skills. (RJC)

Tested hypothesis that demographic shortages of suitable marital partners influences women's marital decisions. Found that a favorable marriage market--the relative number of men to women--increases the odds of marrying a high-status man compared with a low-status man (as measured in terms of education and occupation). (RJM)

Tests hypothesis that, relative to people who marry later in life, persons who marry young will be especially susceptible to divorce when confronted with abundant alternatives to their current spouse. Using a national longitudinal survey and census data, found no support for this hypothesis. Other findings are discussed. (RJM)

In an examination of definition of oral proficiency, this study investigated the phenomenon of variation in questions posed by interviewers at key junctures in the interview process. It is argued that perceptions of oral proficiency are reflected in the extent of accommodation in interviewer questioning. (23 references) (Author/LB)

Describes six informal diagnostic strategies (paired learning, red dot, chalkboard analysis, small-group pretesting and reteaching, answer key, and calculator computation checks) designed to help middle school students gain independence through cooperative learning activities. Corrective feedback is provided through peer discussion, limited…

Informal Assessment sometimes interprets enthusiasm and confidence in mathematics for cognitive competence. Presented are two case studies of interviews conducted to study the affective and reflective capacities underlying children's mathematical thinking during a nonroutine problem-solving task. (MDH)