To identify which needs of the Hart County schools were most important to community members, a study was undertaken using information from a community needs assessment meeting with 28 citizens in Munfordville (Kentucky) in December, 1987. The information used included the top-ranked 25% of individual need statements and all 71 need statements.…

The Native American population scores farther from the norm on standardized tests than other minority populations. Native Americans are generally believed to be culturally more different from the rest of the United States population than other minorities are in that the Native American traditional cultures are more intact. This is particularly…

Based on the concept that teachers can help students become better learners, mastery learning involves the identification of specific segments of learning and then mastery of them by individual students. Mastery learning provides a structure for teaching that includes class instruction followed by small group work. It is a group-based approach to…

Because of the need for increased numbers of qualified industrial arts teachers, this study was designed to identify factors that influence the choice of industrial education as a major for adult students in certification programs throughout the United States. A representative sample of adult students in industrial education departments of…

This study investigated several aspects of a teaching experiment which focused on five seventh grade students' performance on nonroutine number theory problem-solving with a close look at the role of heuristics, concrete models, and the relationships between these variables. In the experiment, students were given a series of lessons on number…

In 1982-83, the program evaluated here provided tutorial and supportive services to approximately 50 Spanish-speaking students of limited English proficiency (LEP) in grades 9-12 at Clara Barton High School, Brooklyn, New York. The program's main objective was to enable LEP students to function successfully in terms of language achievement and…

This report synthesizes research on attracting and maintaining quality teachers in a profession increasingly labeled mediocre, reviews pertinent literature, and suggests ways principals can motivate teachers, and makes recommendations for reducing current science and math shortages. Those entering the teaching profession are no longer drawn…

Race and socioeconomic class differences in children's reading performance are influenced by social and motivational factors. For example, children from poverty backgrounds are more likely to attribute success to conditions outside personal control, and thus do not experience as much pride in achievement as middle class students who have learned…

The teaching corps is undergoing a transformation as the teaching population ages. In the past, "burned-out" teachers could be transferred or could change professions. The economics of the 1980's leaves dissatisfied teachers with no alternative but to remain in teaching. This paper examines ways to help administrators and teachers cope with this…

Independent study is an instructional approach that can have enormous power in the classroom. It can be used successfully with students at all ability levels, even though it is often associated with gifted students. Independent study is an opportunity for students to study a subject of their own choosing under the guidance of a teacher. The…

The Specials Projects (Innovations) Program of the Commonwealth Schools Commission in Australia was established to improve primary and secondary education by encouraging innovation and diversity in teaching through grants to individuals, usually teachers. This study focuses on the professional development of the teachers involved. Forty-five…

This module, one in a series of 127 performance-based teacher education (PBTE) learning packages, focuses upon specific professional competencies of vocational teachers. The competencies upon which these modules are based were identified and verified through research as being important to successful vocational teaching at both the secondary and…

This booklet outlines specific strategies to help teachers prepare an effective self-study course for students enrolled in nontraditional study. The guide is organized in four chapters that cover the following topics: (1) consideration of students and their motivation; (2) preparation of an effective course (conceptualization--goals, expectations,…

The rationale, approaches, and mechanics of publishing a student yearbook in English-as-a-Second-Language programs are discussed, and examples are drawn from the experiences and practices at the University of Pennsylvania. The production of a yearbook is suggested as a context for student writing that transcends the scope of the essay and that can…

This article addresses the role of perceived self-efficacy during self-regulated learning--learning that occurs from students' self-generated behaviors systematically oriented toward the attainment of learning goals. Self-efficacy refers to personal beliefs about one's capabilities to behave in ways necessary to attain desired performances. A…