Many postsecondary students who request academic accommodations for learning disabilities actually show no documentable learning disability but a discrepancy between their intellectual ability and their achievement aspirations (i.e., a "yearning disability") rather than a discrepancy between their ability and achievement (i.e., a…

A study investigated the relationship of 35 high school students' online catalog search performance and their academic achievement and verbal, quantitative, and analytical abilities as measured by standardized tests. Results indicate a moderate correlation between search performance and academic performance and cognitive abilities and a stronger…

Examined the relationships between individual psychological characteristic, social contextual levels of family and culture, and mathematics performance in young adolescents. Found that scholastic ability perception is associated with the mathematics performance of students and that, at different levels of the social context, young adolescents'…

Researchers examined the effect of writing in response to simple and complex pictures on students' narrative writing. Findings indicated that fourth graders use different composing behavior and produce different written products than do sixth graders, writing more coherently/cohesively for complex than for simple tasks. (SM)

Examined the effect of providing progress reports for 24 weeks to first and second graders in a computer-based instruction environment. Results indicated that providing progress reports may produce small, short-term gains in rate of lesson completion for some students. (BC)

There are many students with high native abilities that remain underdeveloped because of inadequate opportunity, practice, and motivation. Although genetics significantly affects development of various intelligences, environment (including cultural values) and sequential experiences help crystallize native abilities. Schools must organize and…

The new Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) measures high-level reasoning in verbal and mathematical domains not tied to any particular instructional experiences, providing an alternative way of demonstrating scholastic ability that may not be reflected in grades. The relationship of College Board testing programs to possible national content…

Kindergartners and third and sixth graders chose classmates whom they would and would not like to have as teammates for an academic contest and as playmates; they also rated their classmates on likability and academic ability. At all ages, children's choices for academic competition and play were associated with their ratings of their classmates'…

A study investigated the factors influencing students' decisions about attending a college to which they had been admitted. Logit analysis confirmed gravity model predictions that geographic distance and student ability would most influence the enrollment decision and found other variables, although affecting earlier stages of decision making, did…

The parents of a highly gifted son reflect on their experiences and their changing and differing perspectives as their son has navigated through the educational system over the years. The parents offer suggestions for educators of gifted students. (SM)

Investigated differences in motivation to learn high school science related to science class type (biological versus physical), gender, and academic ability. Student surveys indicated that there were several differences between higher and lower achieving students and between students in biological versus physical science classes. Sex stereotypes…

Finds that, in contrast to American children, Indian children (between the ages of 6 and 12) attributed a successful performance to effort rather than to ability, and referred to external attributions (teacher bias and copying) rather than internal attributions (ability) when asked to explain why two children might obtain the same score with…

Surveyed 656 fifth graders on their use of self-handicapping strategies and examined predictors of self-handicapping. Boys used handicapping more than girls did, and grade point average and perceived academic competence were negatively related to handicapping. Ability goal structure and teaching practices highlighting relative ability were…

Ratings by 23 parents and 21 regular education teachers of 20 elementary-aged students with blindness on the Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS) were compared to ratings for the SSRS sighted-norm group. Although no significant differences were found for overall ratings, students with blindness were rated as less academically competent and higher on…

Investigates the role of academic self-esteem and academic performance in 208 U. S. college students' perceptions of the validity of their grades. Data collected through a questionnaire. Finds that regardless of self-esteem, the students with higher GPAs saw grades as more valid. This finding is in accordance with weak forms of self-enhancement…