The self-perceptions of 64 English pupils (ages 8-16) with Down Syndrome were assessed in three school-related domains: academic competence, physical competence, and social acceptance. The pupils held very positive self-perceptions in each domain. Self-perceptions became more positive with age, were more positive for females than males, and were…

Discusses a survey of more than 2,000 students from remedial and college-level reading and English classes that measured three key areas: self-concept, value, and reading strategies. Finds that: (1) developmental students were lacking in reading self-concept and valued reading less; (2) first-time students valued reading less than experienced…

Teachers and peers have a unique impact on Latino students' math and science perceptions and performance. (Contains 4 figures and 3 notes.)

To examine the perception of instructors who teach in prison college programs, two studies were conducted, the first in 1993 and the second in 2003. Three areas of measurement were included in the survey instrument sent to professors working in the Ball State University's Prison Program, Muncie, IN. The first measurement was that of instructors'…

Educators and psychologists alike have trumpeted calls for a reduced focus on deficits and pathology and increased attention to strengths and general wellness in all children. Life satisfaction is one of the most well-established indicators of general wellness and, moreover, positive functioning. Most examinations of children's life satisfaction…

Aim: To investigate the relationship between subtypes of self-esteem/self-concept (familial, academic, social, and personal security) and antisocial behavior in adolescents (violent and property offending). Method: A self-report survey was administered in a representative group of 1466 students aged 12 to 18. Results: Both low family acceptance…

This paper presents the outcomes of a study carried out in 2001-2002 with nine postgraduate students from China, enrolled on taught master's programmes in a UK university business school. The aims of the research were to explore the development of the students' orientations to learning during their year of study in the UK, and to explore how the…

Introduction: Identifying talent is the first step in a process that leads to an educational response for students with talent and high ability. Can talent be identified from an early age? Does talent remain naturally throughout the different stages of schooling, or, on the contrary, does it require orientation in order to be developed? The study…

This study examined the hypothesized relationship between social adjustment, as measured by perceived social support, self-concept, and social skills, and performance on academic achievement tests. Participants included 27 teachers and 77 fourth- and eighth-grade students with diverse academic and behavior competencies. Teachers were asked to…

Social studies educators have long promoted inquiry learning as a valuable method of instruction. Specifically, research into the use of inquiry methods in the teaching and learning of history has demonstrated that this method has much to offer. Recently, the use of technological tools, including the Internet, has received attention as a means of…

This article deals with the reasons behind the difference in adequate yearly progress (AYP) outcomes between Florida and Georgia. The states' most recent results on the federal gauge--AYP-- are essentially the mirror image of one another. In Florida, about 77 percent of schools did not make adequate progress. In Georgia, 78 percent did. Both…

The purpose of this paper is to provide an operational definition of college readiness that differs from current representations of this concept primarily in its scope. The paper suggests that, while much has been learned about this phenomenon, particularly during the past 20 years, few systematic attempts have been made to integrate the various…

Average-ability students often do not take full advantage of learning in mixed-ability groups because they hardly engage in the group interaction. This study examined whether structuring collaboration by group roles and ground rules for helping behavior might help overcome this participatory inequality. In a plant biology course, heterogeneously…

Women are making progress in many areas of science, but a gender gap still remains, especially in physics, computer science, and engineering, and at advanced levels of academic and career achievement. Today's teachers can help narrow this gap by instilling a love for science in their female students and by helping them to understand and develop…

This study explored connections between perceived academic ability level, academic and social involvement, and interaction across race/ethnicity in informal campus situations. Data were obtained from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program 1987 freshmen survey and 1991 followup survey and the Higher Education Research Institute faculty…