When cloze and maze scores are compared with teacher judgment in establishing the independent, instructional, and fustration levels of students, both techniques tend to overestimate a child's ability. (HOD)

Examined educators' perceptions of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, based on the results of a statewide survey among 286 fifth- and sixth-grade teachers and principals. Educators gave highest ratings to teacher/officer interaction, role-playing exercises, and the graduation ceremony. Ratings of program quality and impact were high.…

Discusses how interviews with fifth-grade students about their literacy journeys--the experiences that led them to where they are now in reading and writing--gave great insight (to their teacher as well as to many other teachers) into what makes language arts instruction "take." Conveys the importance of authentic literacy experiences. (SR)

Investigates the effectiveness of the mystery motivator intervention as a means to remediate mathematics homework accuracy and completion problems in five fifth- grade students. Results indicated that the mystery motivator intervention was effective for all students on one or both outcome criteria. Additionally, both the teachers and students…

Describes how to design, organize, and implement a student-centered physics fair. Involves fifth grade students teaching physics concepts to kindergarten students. Indicates that "students" retained what they learned, exhibited increased understanding of the scientific method, and gained confidence in their ability to be "scientists" while…

Describes ways to enable fifth-grade students to lead discussions about provocative books without an adult and to enjoy discussions as much as they enjoy simple retellings. Describes preparing for, setting up, and ending the discussion. (SR)

Examines the effect of self-instruction training on comprehension monitoring of below-average and above-average readers. Finds that self-instruction aided both groups of students in recognizing between-sentence contradictions and that below-average readers performed as well as above-average readers on transfer measures. (RS)

Describes a student-created "rap" that emphasizes fifth graders' recall of basic English elements, using textual information from "Building English Skills." (MM)

Interviews of fifth and sixth graders (n=120) found that they approached a task perceptually instead of reasoning with equivalent fractions, which they had studied in school. (Author/MKR)

Project learning, with community and school staff assistance, helped a fifth-grade class transform the school lunchroom and their own behavior. A $2,500 Alcoa grant spearheaded an Italian restaurant project. Children served on five committees: public relations and advertising, management, art and design, planning and budgeting, and research. The…

This study, based on a socio-constructivist approach, seeks to help children to develop the cognitive processes of decentration and anticipation. Analysis focuses on observation of children's behavior while playing ball in a group and then on the graphic representation of the actions drawn by the children after each play session. (Author/JKP)

Examined developmental effects of bibliotherapy-based classroom guidance curriculum. Students (n=22) in experimental group participated in 12 bibliotherapy-based lessons using titles selected for literary merit; control students (n=20) participated in 12 guidance lessons. Results suggest that use of stories to help students solve problems or…

Positive attitudes toward computer-assisted instruction (CAI) were found in a survey of 137 Turkish fifth graders. Compared to traditional classrooms, CAI was perceived as more interesting, better understood, and more motivating. No significant differences between boys and girls were found. (SK)

Examines children's responses to nine works of realistic literature and film. Finds (1) between-text differences for stance and understanding; (2) book and film differences for stance but not for understanding; (3) most responses were written from an aesthetic stance; and (4) the use of an aesthetic stance is associated with significantly higher…

Describes the development of a fifth-grade social studies program, Man: A Course of Study, or MACOS. Discusses how the program strengths and shortcomings, those of the educational reform movement of the 1960s, influence today's educational reform. Suggests that the role of scholars, the participation of teachers, and the use of media are valuable…