This study examined how upper elementary biology students grasped the concepts of mean and deviation from mean and the implications of these concepts. Pretesting and posttesting of students who did and did not have computer assisted training in the concepts indicated that though most students failed in more difficult tasks, experimental students…

Traces the revision of narrative and expository text made by sixth grade students during a school year in which the focus was on improving reading comprehension and writing through instruction in text structure. Finds that only expository texts were judged to improve in writing quality by year end. (MG)

Tests the effects (in a large field study) of family communication environment and parental mediation of television content on third, sixth, and ninth graders' (1) perceptions of the realism of television content and its similarity to real life; and (2) their identification with television characters. Finds that the parent directly mediates…

The abilities of 37 children in grades 2, 4, and 6 to recall and answer questions concerning motives of characters in fables were examined when motives were implicit or explicit with regard to text, or implicit with regard to script. Overall, children had difficulty in comprehending characters' motives. (SLD)

Investigates effects of prior knowledge, explicitness, and clause order on fifth and sixth grade readers' ability to infer causal cohesive ties in expository text. Finds significant effects for prior knowledge for fifth and sixth grade students on all variables except the cohesion cloze task. (SG)

Discussion of gender differences in computer usage focuses on a study that was conducted to investigate sex differences in attitudes of students in grades three and six toward computers. Research on computer gender differences among elementary and secondary school students and college students is reviewed, and additional research needs are…

Students in two Canadian sixth grade classes (n=104) were assigned to four groups: persuasion instruction with writing practice; persuasion instruction with reading practice; practice in reading; and group discussions (controls). The performance of those given instruction in persuasive writing with reading or writing practice improved…

Structural equation analysis of the cognitive engagement (CE) of 100 fifth and 175 sixth graders in science activities demonstrated that students who placed greater emphasis on task-mastery goals reported more active CE. Students oriented toward social recognition, pleasing the teacher, or avoiding work had a lower level of CE. (SLD)

The outcome interpretations, attributions for the outcome, expectancies of future test outcomes, and perceptions concerning instrumental actions of four Finnish elementary school teachers and their 84 sixth-grade students were compared after a math exam. Disagreements between teachers and students on these points reflect biases on the part of…

A sixth grade class is divided into two groups on the basis of eye color. On succeeding days, brown-eyed and blue-eyed students are treated either preferentially or with prejudice. The experimental lesson is repeated in a parent student workshop, where students lead the discussion of discrimination and bias. (AF)

Analyzes differences in achievement levels between Sephardi and Ashkenazi grade 6 students and overall achievement levels in 24 Israeli urban elementary schools. Finds that schools with higher levels of between-classroom segregation had larger ethnic achievement gaps. (FMW)

The effectiveness of a teacher-implemented psychological health program designed to improve students' test coping skills in the classroom was tested using 497 Israeli fifth and sixth graders. The cognitive training program significantly improved performance on three cognitive measures, although it negligibly affected test anxiety scores. (SLD)

Provides a lesson plan designed to introduce students in grades four-six to the concept of social realism as it is portrayed in twentieth century Latin American art. Uses Antonio Berni's "Noon Time" in implementing instructional strategies which enhance analysis, interpretation, and judgment. Suggests a creative activity for studying…

The relationships between student affective performance and classroom physical environment, social climate, and management style were studied for 21,622 students, mostly sixth graders, in Hong Kong. Perceived quality of physical environment and class master's expert, personal, and coercive power were the strongest predictors of affective…

Reports on a study of the effects of competency-based self- analysis of videotaped rehearsals by inservice music teachers. Examines the patterns of task presentation, student response, and immediate teacher feedback. Finds that research-based teaching techniques significantly increased teacher use of complete sequential patterns. (CFR)