Argues that current educational practices underestimate the magnitude of diversity in educational achievement and that disregarding diversity widens the range of differences. Reducing concern with grade-level achievement and increasing concern with academic mastery would have long-term educational benefits. Changes are proposed for elementary…

A dynamic measure (number of examples needed to reach mastery) predicted transfer but not maintenance of a learned strategy for 64 third graders trained by scaffolded (n=32) or nonscaffolded (n=32) methods. A static measure had some predictive utility in the nonscaffolded condition. The potential superiority of scaffolded instruction is discussed.…

This study examined the cognitive development of students enrolled in three levels of freshman chemistry courses and focused on changes in spatial ability over time. Results indicate that performance on general Piagetian-type tasks, including spatial visualization, can be refined through educational intervention. Concludes that students appear…

Supports the contention that a dual-enrollment program, such as that implemented in the Florida Community College System, provides a viable acceleration mechanism for qualified students. Describes study undertaken to determine the readiness of high school students to complete college-level work and their ensuing academic successes or problems.…

This article describes the Comprehensive Assessment of Reading Strategies, a six-level diagnostic series for evaluating mastery of 12 reading strategies at each level by students in grades 3 through 8, as well as allowing for their metacognitive self-assessment. Its administration, standardization; reliability, and validity are discussed.…

Describes the design and findings of the Victoria Day Care Research Project. Concludes that early day care experiences and family environments were associated with verbal abilities in early childhood and with competencies in early and late adolescence. Found that children from higher-resource families were most likely to have higher-quality day…

Explores two contrasting educational perspectives of high school students with significant disabilities and mental retardation, providing examples from qualitative data on educators' competence- and deficit-oriented perspectives and on students' academic engagement. Competence-oriented teachers believed in and expected more from the students.…

The impact of ability grouping on the lives of school children (N=1922) is examined. Its roots in the history of education and the rationale for tracking are reviewed. Adverse effects of various practices associated with tracking are reported, and a reconsideration of tracking policies is encouraged. (EMK)

Surveys literature on adolescents with respect to the possible causes of the educational lag in Hispanic youth. Presents possible contributing factors to the education lag, including culture shock many young Hispanics experience upon entrance into school. Offers suggestions for strategies to improve attainment levels of Hispanic American Youth.…

Self-determination theory and a motivational model of engagement were used to determine the impact of perceived competence and autonomy on engagement and performance in 77 third and fourth graders identified as above average in ability. Children who felt less competent or less autonomous reported more negative affect and withdrawal. (SLD)

Discusses evidence that social understanding informs word learning in infants. Asks: (1) Is genuine social understanding necessary for word learning?; (2) Are social clues criterial for infants' learning?; (3) Can word learning proceed without aid of social understanding?; and (4) Is social clue processing too difficult for everyday word learning?…

This reprint of an article on Israel's proposed residential high school for students gifted in the arts and sciences is preceded by a commentary that highlights the use of alternative methods of assessment for identifying talented students in the arts and the development of a coherent sequence of art skills. (Contains references.) (CR)

This article describes a gifted program that identified students after entry into the program. Students are judged suitable for gifted education after having had opportunities to develop and exhibit behaviors within a gifted classroom. The result has been student opportunities and achievements that span the chasm between excellence and equity.…

Studies the determinants of track placement in Israel, using approximately 4,500 ninth graders. Findings suggest that although ability and academic performance are strong predictors of track placement, it is also significantly affected by student's socioeconomic status (SES), ethnic origin, and gender. Students of higher SES, those of Western…

This article describes critical events that have shaped gifted education, including: deployment of Sputnik, Lewis Terman's giftedness definition, the Marland Report, Joseph Renzulli's inclusion of creativity, Talents Unlimited, Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences theory, David Feldman's use of developmental psychology in assessment, Sandra…