Discriminant validity of several psychological tests was investigated for 24 reading-retarded and 23 normal Icelandic fifth graders. Differentiation was greatest on verbal intelligence and on various other verbal tests. Results indicate the need for an adequate intelligence measure in Iceland and development of refined measures of verbal skills.…

Describes the rationale for and the methods used in four case studies of mathematics teaching in California which are discussed in subsequent articles. The case studies were designed to elicit relationships between teachers' knowledge of mathematics and beliefs about the nature of mathematics teaching and learning and their mathematics…

Presents results of a study of whether simulation leads to improved understanding of economic concepts among fifth grade students. Reports that simulations were used in instructing 300 children in 10 classes in the southeastern United States. Concludes that the use of simulations and role-playing activities increased student performance in…

Fifth and sixth grade children were assigned to three pretesting conditions: a full-length pretest, an adaptive pretest that exited learners when nonmastery was indicated, and a no pretest control. Learners in the adaptive treatment demonstrated higher levels of performance on the posttest and had greater motivation to continue the instruction.…

A procedure-based observational scoring system and a notebook completed by students were evaluated as science assessments for 41 fifth grade students experienced in hands-on science and 55 fifth grade students inexperienced in hands-on science. Results suggest that notebooks may be a reasonable, although less reliable, surrogate for observed…

With a computer's assistance, a Missouri school is assessing its fifth graders' reading progress by recording their voices as they read aloud, then saving the students' self-evaluations along with the recordings in a computer portfolio. Program aims to involve students in self-evaluation and critical thinking, promote student ownership of reading…

Describes a model procedure for integrating direct instruction in story structure with reader response to literature in two settings: traditional storybook read-aloud sessions and nontraditional HyperCard computer sessions. (SR)

Presents an annotated bibliography of 23 computer software programs selected for their applicability to the fifth-grade curriculum outlined in California History Social Science Framework. Categorizes the recommended software programs by eight chronological units in the course. Includes the current price for each program and a list of sources for…

Describes Be a Winner, an innovative drug education program in which uniformed law enforcement officers lead an eight-week instructional program at the fifth or sixth grade levels. Program evaluation indicated program decision-making skills improved as well as a positive change in some attitudes and beliefs concerning substance use. (Author/ABL)

When two upstate New York teachers analyzed the problems attending student presentations, it became clear that only students with Quadrant 2 (analytical) learning styles were comfortable listening to an oral report. After their gifted fifth and seventh graders created a 4MAT wheel, their new insights helped generate possible solutions to common…

Investigates the phenomenon of topic shift (sentences initiating a new topic are given additional processing time by skilled readers). Finds adults showed a proportionately greater effect than fifth graders when more difficult expository texts were used but not with easy narratives. Finds that paragraph marking did not influence the processing of…

Describes a school library media project for teaching poetry in which fifth-grade students write and illustrate a poem and produce a poster using the PosterPrinter machine. Suggestions for additional activities are included. (EAM)

Notes change in central position held by old people in traditional Jewish-Oriental family and society following migration to Israel. Changing attitudes within family are reflected in discussions by disadvantaged soldiers of Oriental origin in classes for basic training in Israeli army and by answers of fifth-grade children to questions on their…

Brief case study of Internet applications in a fifth-grade class demonstrates that Internet use can increase student engagement and participation. Overview of the current debate on networking schools for Internet access discusses the rationale for Internet use, issues of cost effectiveness and untrained teachers, and potential benefits of…

Presents a mathematical investigation focusing on measurement, data collection, and decision making in the context of mining for grades four and five. Encourages students to make their own decisions about collecting data and the methods most appropriately used for analysis. (ASK)