The authors investigated the effects of student spatial ability, as measured by Raven's Progressive Colored Matrices (J. C. Raven, 1938) and type of instructional program on geometry achievement. Sixth-grade students worked through either 6 instructional activities in Geometer's Sketchpad (Key Curriculum Press, 1993), a dynamic geometry program,…

This article, based upon a survey of 3000 teachers in 92 Illinois high schools, presents data on homework use by teachers. Data is provided on the amount, frequency, structure, purposes, and types of homework assigned to students. The level of school and parental support is also assessed. (IAH)

Hearing impaired students and on-task classroom time were examined in a study of hearing impaired classrooms. Characteristics of the effective teacher of the hearing impaired included: avoidance of excessive reprimands, maintenance of sufficient contact time for comprehension, and periodical monitoring of comprehension. (Author/DF)

High school students were observed to investigate time-on-task and learning gains. Classroom observation and learning gain measurement showed that a lecture/discussion instructional technique led to the highest student achievement. Use of seatwork caused the least amount of achievement. (DF)

Relationships among student achievement, class size, and mode of instruction were investigated using 225 fourth-grade students. Students were randomly assigned to teacher-led or seatwork assignments in groups of either one, three, five, or six, and results showed seatwork impervious to group size effects, while achievement varied. (Author/JMK)

The effects of a free-time contingency on the grammar skills of nine mildly handicapped students were investigated in this article. Use of free time was correlated with improved skills by all students. Problems and benefits of the procedures are discussed. (Author/DF)

This study examined two kindergarten literacy frameworks (environment and events) and their effect on kindergartners' literacy development. Observations, interviews, and pre- and postmeasures of literacy achievement indicated that students in the emergent literacy kindergarten made significantly more literacy gains than those in the reading…

Reports findings of a study that investigated fifth and sixth graders' attending and participating behaviors during mathematics. Some students, especially low achievers, manifested passivity in cooperative small groups. Some possible reasons for this behavior are suggested, and a categorization of types of passivity is provided. (Author/SM)