A group of three conference papers, all addressing effective instructional programs, is presented in this document. The first paper, entitled "The Organization--A Viable Instrument for Progress" (Barbara Sizemore), addresses the subject of high-achieving, predominantly black elementary schools. Routines in these schools not present in…

Drawing on thousands of "reading autobiographies," in which generations of students wrote about their experiences with reading, this book investigates what makes young people want to read. Chapters include: (1) Growing with Books; (2) Learning To Read; (3) Literature and the Human Voice; (4) Reading Habits and Attitudes: When, Where, and…

Even though enrollment in elementary schools and national literacy rates have increased greatly in India since its independence in 1949, the number of dropouts and illiterate individuals will also continue to increase unless the needs of the socially disadvantaged are identified and met. The majority of the dropouts and the illiterates belong to…

The current status of education is presented in the form of education "indicators"--key data that measure the "health" of education or its trends. These indicators derive from studies carried out by the National Center for Education Statistics as well as from surveys conducted elsewhere, both within and outside of the Federal…

In this study 222 urban and rural Hispanic students from Colorado in grades 10 and 12 were classified into the following catagories: (1) dropouts; (2) strugglers, whose attendance levels and grade point averages (GPAs) were below the class median; and (3) achievers, whose GPAs were in the top tertile of their class. The students and their families…

The state of the art of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in instruction of English as a second language (ESL) is examined. An overview of computer applications in the field discusses computer roles in language learning, computers and the standard curriculum, computer requirements for different types of CALL (instructional, collaborative,…

This national longitudinal study follows the first 5 years of life of 13,135 children in England, Scotland, and Wales who were born during a single week in April 1970. Part One examines the concept and extent of social inequality in the sample of children and compares the social circumstances of this third cohort with those of the earlier two…

To determine the role of vocational education in enhancing private sector productivity in the Sedalia, Missouri area, the feasibility of a program to assist business and industry in productivity awareness, assessment, and improvement was evaluated. Based on data from six area business and industry representatives who agreed to complete a survey…

A study was conducted to identify and verify the competencies that are considered necessary for beginning vocational administrators in Florida. During the study, an 83-item survey questionnaire that covered 15 broad competency statement areas was administered to a sample of 137 individuals. Included in the study sample were all of Florida's 67…

A systematic, statewide study of vocational education consumer and homemaking programs was conducted in Pennsylvania to gather data for use in decision-making concerning future funding and for redirection and improvement of these programs. Data were gathered through review of funded projects; questionnaires to school districts; in-depth study of…

This volume, part of the Junior High School Transition Study, reports on findings regarding one of five areas of interest in the study. Questions being addressed are: (1) How do students participate in, and respond to, junior high school instruction? (2) Do students respond differently in different circumstances? and (3) Are these differences, if…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 22 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: (1) the role of the paraprofessional in the high school classroom; (2) the effectiveness of a staff development program in reading; (3) perceived characteristics…

Presented from a geographical perspective, this book examines major themes of human geography by drawing from the literature on feminism. The book is arranged into four parts. Part 1 examines sex ratios throughout the world, geographical distribution of female rights and status, spatial patterns of the Equal Rights Amendment ratification, the…

Abstracts and abstractors' critiques of 10 published research reports related to misconceptions, attitudes, gender and miscellaneous issues are presented in this issue. Studies include: (1) the development, revision, refinement, and partial validation of an instrument to assess preservice elementary teachers' process orientation toward science;…

The book is the outgrowth of two studies: a cross-sectional analysis comparing the experiences and tested achievement of high school seniors over the decade 1972 to 1982, and a longitudinal analysis relating cognitive growth (particularly in mathematical skills) of 1980 high school sophomores to their schooling experiences over the period 1980 to…