Reports a study of 56 fifth graders that questioned whether the cognitive style of reflection-impulsivity could be measured by students' performance on 2 art-related tests. Found that cognitive style was not a strong predictor of artistic performance. (GG)

The viability of self-instructional strategy training was investigated in a study involving 22 learning disabled and 11 normal fifth and sixth graders. Training produced meaningful and lasting effects on composition skills and heightened the sense of self-efficacy of subjects. (TJH)

Compares mathematics teaching in 280 first and fifth grade classrooms in Japan, Taiwan, and the United States in terms of time management, organization, problem solving, evaluation, and coherence. Findings show that classrooms in Japan and Taiwan differ markedly from those in the United States. (RJC)

Interview responses of fifth- and sixth-grade gifted and talented children in resource programs revealed attitudes about their own abilities, competition, their school programs, expectations of others, and participation in special programs. A variety of social and emotional needs clearly emerged. (MSE)

Describes a successful school model that is piloting computer hardware and software while reviewing and modifying classroom strategies and instructional techniques. Discusses the purpose of the school and a typical day of instruction. Lists results for the fifth and sixth grades. (MVL)

How children's achievement attributions were influenced by age, attentional focus, and success/failure was studied in 151 students in grades two, three, five, and six. For older children, self-focus enhanced internal attributions for success, while task-focusing did so for younger children, who were more likely to attribute success/failure to…

Maintains that creative work is sensitive to the social context of the creator. Reports on a nine-month study of how peer social processes influenced children's creative activity in three fifth-grade classes. Finds that variance appears to be related to the structure of the work process established by teachers and students. (CFR)

Describes a collaborative project between a college elementary education course and a fifth-grade class that used electronic mail to learn about teaching reading and language arts. Highlights include the idea of the fifth graders as the experts; reducing computer anxiety; evaluation results from both student groups; and future revisions. (LRW)

Compares the effects of two visual advance organizers on comprehension and retention of a written passage in a FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary School) Program: (1) "Video" and (2) "Pictures + Teacher Narrative". Investigators randomly assigned 62 students to 1 one of 2 conditions. "Video" was the more effective organizer of the two. (23…

Describes a genre-based approach to content writing instruction used in a fifth-grade social studies class in which the majority of the students came from English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) backgrounds. A unit on explorers and exploration used narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository writing assignments to improve the students'…

Reports on a study of 34 high-ability fifth-grade students randomly assigned to individual- or cooperative-learning conditions. Finds that achievement was higher on recall and higher order reasoning measures and that the students demonstrated higher academic self-esteem and greater cohesion in the cooperative condition. (CFR)

Describes a study that investigated a home/school computer project and its effects on reading, language, and mathematics achievement on 142 fourth- and fifth-grade students as well as equity issues relating to gender, academic aptitude, and socioeconomic status. Results indicate that participation was not associated with increased academic…

Describes a HyperCard program designed to teach middle school students about AIDS in a cooperative learning setting. Cooperative learning techniques are discussed, including positive interdependence, individual accountability, face-to-face interaction, and social skills; and results of field trials with fifth and sixth grade students are…

Findings from fifth grade African-American, white, and Asian American students revealed that antisocial behavior and attitudes were stronger predictors of substance initiation for Asian Americans than for other groups. For whites, self-reported and teacher-rated behavior were significantly related to substance initiation. For African Americans,…

Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR) is a technique in which audiotapes are used to evoke students' memories concerning their own thinking. Reports a study using IPR to probe elementary students' (n=17) thinking during a problem-solving situation. Concluded that IPR has potential in classroom research. (MDH)