Imagine walking into an 8th-grade science classroom and hearing a discussion among students about a challenging assignment they recently completed. A pilot program in 18 Tennessee schools develops agency through competency-based education. Students in Beth Hines' 8th grade physical science class at West Collierville Middle School in Tennessee are…

The relations of academic and social goal orientations to academic and social behaviors and self-concept were investigated among academically talented adolescents (N = 1,218) attending a mastery-oriented academic residential summer program. Results supported context effects in that academic mastery goal orientations predicted academic (in-class…

Sports are popular across the nation and youth sport participation is at an all-time high, yet children are quitting youth sports at an alarming rate. If this trend is going to change, several areas of concern must be addressed. The climate created on youth teams can be polarizing, having the potential for significant positive or negative…

Academic dishonesty among high school students has long since transformed into an epidemic that affects nearly every student, compromising not only their intellectual growth but also their moral development. Yet, beyond the occasional hand-wringing in the media, the problem has been largely ignored by teachers, schools, policymakers, and even…

Educational strengths and limitations of the mastery learning instructional model in fulfilling the functions of instruction and student evaluation are examined. (MM)

Achievement-based unit grading in secondary physical education is not commonly practiced due to resistance to grading students based on learning, performance, or achievement. Traditional grading practices based on managerial factors, such as attendance and good behavior, and on "pseudo-accountability" do little to make students accountable for…

This overview is presented in three sections. Thomas Guskey outlines the development of mastery learning, its application in the classroom, and its benefits and drawbacks. LuOuida Phillips answers questions about the student's role in mastery learning. Kay Miller describes the success of mastery learning at Westover School. (SJL)

Learning is not a spectator sport but requires active learners who integrate new experiences into existing cognitive structures. Principals can help students develop self-responsibility by initiating discussions on this topic, identifying and sharing multiple learning resources for student use, and modeling uses of assignments based on mastery…

Competency-based educational programs are here to stay. Here the author describes the program underway in his school system. (Editor/RK)

In order to determine the effectiveness of using student performance contracts in social science courses, the author chose two sections of the course entitled "The Individual in Modern Society" and two sections of the course entitled "Social Problems" for a controlled experiment. One section of each course used the contract format, whereby…

Based on the belief that discipline problems reflect poor relationships and must be resolved in a social context, this book provides teachers with a framework which enables them to relate more effectively with students. Following a preface, the volume is organized into 11 chapters: (1) "A New Tradition in Classroom Management"; (2)…