Fifth-grade boys of relatively good, average, and poor reading ability were assessed on tasks in which success and failure were manipulated. Consistent with predictions, poor readers displayed characteristics indicative of learned helplessness and low self-concepts of ability, including low expectations and less persistence. (Instructional…

A study of groups of fifth graders working in competitive or cooperative learning conditions found that in the cooperative condition, most student interactions were on-task, whereas in the competitive condition, all student interactions were off-task. Groups that began the term in the competitive condition and then switched to cooperative learning…

Provides content and process information for helping fourth- and fifth-grade students cope with stressors: content includes a survey of stressors and coping behaviors, and process includes ways to gather such information. Suggests that when teaching coping strategies, to remember that many students have developed their own coping mechanisms. (RJM)

Investigated the relationship between peer-tutoring interactions of dyads and experience in a reciprocal peer tutoring (RPT) program in mathematics. Analysis of 40 at-risk fourth- and fifth-grade students indicates that RPT participants displayed significantly higher rates of mathematics achievement, social acceptance, and other favorable measures…

Describes an art lesson used with fifth grade students in which they created paintings with a mother child theme. Explains that the students learned about the mother child theme in an art history context. Discusses how the students created their artworks and lists materials and resources for the project. (CMK)

Contrasts student achievement using commercial curricula (CC) for initial fraction learning with that of using the Rational Number Project (RNP) fraction curriculum. Indicates that students using RNP materials had statistically higher mean scores on concepts, order, transfer, and estimation. Interview data showed differences in the quality of…

Presents a fifth grade study unit about the Great Depression that attempts to incorporate research on student's historical understanding. Features activities that include a simulation focusing on how people lost money, children writing letters to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, and students performing their own historical scenarios. (CMK)

Investigates high-achieving fifth-grade students' achievement gains and conceptual reorganization on convection. Features an instructional sequence of three dyadic inquiry investigations related to convection currents as well as pre- and post-assessment consisting of a multiple-choice test, a card sorting task, construction of a concept map, and…

Presents a lesson plan for 4th and 5th grade students presenting four views of U.S. artistic responses to nature, society, and technological advances. States the goal is for students to analyze, compare, and contrast how artists define the United States. (DAJ)

Describes the author's experiences with fifth-grade students who were English Language Learners in a social studies class. Explains how the teacher used photography within the social studies classroom and took the children on a field trip to see historic sites. Discusses the outcomes of the project for the students involved. (CMK)

First- and second-year findings of a survey of the development of disordered eating in 80 fourth- and fifth-grade girls and 85 boys are presented. Results, especially findings about body mass index and pubertal development, emphasize gender differences and the importance of identifying early risk factors for eating disorders. (SLD)

Examines the effects of a group counseling intervention on the self-concept of children of alcoholics. Fourth- and fifth-grade students were assigned randomly to a counseling intervention support group. Results indicate that group counseling helped children of alcoholics improve their self-concepts and also increased their social skills. (RJM)

Examines the influence of happy outcome information and coping style on fourth and fifth graders' emotional responses to a frightening film sequence. Finds that prior knowledge of the happy outcome reduced self-reported fear and worry for "blunters" but not for "monitors." Discusses interpretations of findings and implications for understanding…

Using work done with Homer's "Odyssey" with fifth graders, illustrates children's proficiency as listeners, creators, and presenters of stories. Shares techniques and anecdotes about this disciplined approach to preparing children as storytellers. Describes such aspects as having a variety of storytelling models, evaluating storytellers,…

Examines the relationship among seven dimensions of self-concept and achievement in 563 African American fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. Especially concerned with relative predictability of the self-concept scales. After controlling for socioeconomic status, social self-concept accounted for a significant amount of variability in achievement…