Discusses an art activity that has students create pictures in which they first trace a chameleon pattern and then add camouflage to conceal the chameleon. Explains that different materials and techniques are used for students in grades k-1 and 2-5. (CMK)

Investigates children's perceptions of their success and failure in relation to mathematics, painting, reading, and getting on' with work. Discusses the categories of the children's responses to a series of questions in which effort, specific competence, and the role of teachers were cited the most as a reason for success/failure. (CMK)

Introduces the Cognitive-Motivational Model of Decision Satisfaction that extends work on closure and the motivational aspects of instruction and learning. Recognizes the importance of information processing in judgmental tasks and specifies confidence as a major contributing factor to learning satisfaction. Suggests potential applications to…

Reports on a study that sought to identify problem areas for students who were unmotivated to finish their engineering degree programs. Identifies intervention strategies being developed as a result of the study. (Contains 14 references.) (Author/WRM)

Maintains that today's students have grown up in a time where they have been constantly entertained. Explains that using humor within the history classroom can increase students' interest in history and entertain them simultaneously. Recommends mixing historical facts with amusing stories about or straight from various historical figures. (CMK)

Researchers followed the progress of 10 restructured secondary schools as they "detracked" their curriculum. Most schools abolished low-level courses in favor of regular classes with honors options. Two middle schools developed a common curriculum; some high schools required all students to pass benchmark classes. Others created opportunities for…

An effective way to conduct writing conferences and support primary students in writing is to find questions that encourage more thinking and writing as they work. Four strategies include: avoiding yes/no questions, encouraging students to value work, evaluating many writing samples, and refocusing in conferences. The paper offers sample writing…

Outlines the development and use of hands-on astronomy activities with street children in Mexico. Focuses on the high level of interest shown by homeless children in astronomy-related topics. (DDR)

Presents a series of activities conducted in an outdoor environmental classroom. Activities focus on a sensory scavenger hunt, microhabitat, and gourmet ants. Explains how expectations and teacher attitudes should adjust in order to teach in a different type of classroom. (DDR)

Presents a case for using wood frogs to study biology with students. Offers tips on where to find the eggs, how to care for them, what to expect as they hatch, and how to engage students in a study of their stages of development. (DDR)

A study involving three individuals (ages 13-20) with developmental disabilities and problem behaviors examined the influential role that unanticipated idiosyncratic stimulus variables play in affecting the outcome of a functional analysis. Guidelines are discussed concerning when to suspect that idiosyncratic stimuli might be acting to influence…

Beneath elements of cognitive development, motivation is seen as a basic concept to describe students' learning in a physics classroom. German secondary school students regard physics as difficult to learn, very abstract, and dominated by males. Knowing about the influence of motivation on learning physics may lead to new insights in the design of…

Reviews research results from 14 studies that focus on the intervention methods practiced to enhance academic intrinsic motivation for students with learning disabilities (LD) and measures used to assess academic intrinsic motivation in students with LD. Data analysis shows that intrinsic motivation strongly relates to academic achievement in…

Discusses establishing a new basis for discipline in U.S. high schools, and suggests making high school voluntary to increase the number of students who really want to be in school. Another suggestion is to find ways to introduce adults into the classrooms to boost the authority of classroom teachers. (SLD)

Interviewed British Muslim women of South Asian origin regarding their motivations for entering higher education. Women increasingly viewed higher education as a necessary asset for maintaining and gaining social prestige. Motivations included parental encouragement, independence, and personal satisfaction. Respondents continually negotiated and…