A study examined writing proficiencies of eight bilingual fifth-graders and their teachers' beliefs about their writing. Writing skills of strong second-language writers equalled those of strong first-language children. Weak second-language writers were not significantly behind first-language writers. Family literacy experiences and the…

A survey of 1,433 high school seniors in northern California examined adolescent educational and career aspirations. Increasing numbers of students planned to seek education or training beyond high school. Latinos had lower aspirations than other ethnic groups. School counseling services were not used much or considered helpful. Parents were the…

This report studies career academies to explore students' and teachers' experiences and to contrast them with those of their peers in regular high school environments. Data are from questionnaires, interviews, and observations of Academy and non-Academy students (835 and 686 respectively) and teachers (65 and 403 respectively). Chapter 2 describes…

Efforts at improving fieldwork supervision during internship have largely focused on the role of university supervisors and intern teachers. Thus students' perceptions of the instructional practices are not systematically collected, analyzed and discussed in such a way that insights from students' perceptions can inform fieldwork supervision. This…

This chapter provides a brief retrospective on the general topic and the empirical work presented in this volume, as well as a discussion of the practical implications of these findings for high schools, institutions of higher education, and the current workforce.

Explored perceptions of school readiness among preschool and kindergarten teachers, principals, and parents. Found participants experienced tensions related to their readiness views: conflict between personal teaching/learning philosophies and state expectations; pressure placed upon children, teachers, and families for children to perform; and…

A quasi-experimental design using student cases and non-random survey methods was used to investigate the influences of student educational labels, behaviors and learning characteristics as perceived by secondary career and technical education (CTE) instructors on occupational program expectations, modifications and accommodations, and…

Since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), school leaders have been locked in a continuing struggle to comply with it. Unrelenting student testing, revisions to class schedules, required disclosures, teacher-quality issues, and requirements for supplemental services are straining every sector of school district operations.…

Most teachers have been good students. Some students are fast learners and attain the required knowledge and skills easily; others are obedient, hard workers. In either case, teachers are likely to believe that if students really try, they will do well. Listening to students over many years, the author has learned that this is probably not true.…

This article describes the teaching method used by Timothy Hearn, a chemistry teacher at Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem. Timothy Hearn uses a stern behavior-based classroom management system to keep his students' attention. While teaching, Hearn tracks each students' behavior on a clipboard that he always carries. He determines each…

This study tested two theoretical models of perceived understanding as a potential mediator of perceived teacher confirmation and students' ratings of instruction. Participants included 651 undergraduate students who completed survey measures. Results of structural equation modeling provided greater support for the confirmation process model,…

This study contributes to the field by identifying a broad range of traditional and newer middle grade policies and practices, and determining in California which of these differentiate higher- from lower-performing schools serving similar student populations, with performance measured by the state's standards-based tests. Based on a sample of 303…

In the 2008-09 school year researchers from EdSource and Stanford University conducted a large-scale study of 303 middle grades schools in California. The team surveyed 303 principals, 3,752 English Language Arts (ELA) and math teachers in grades 6-8, and 157 superintendents of the districts and charter management organizations that oversee the…

This study was undertaken to describe ways in which "performance oriented" teachers in Maryland communicate learning targets, elements of quality, and standards for performance to their students. Surveys were distributed to approximately 90 participants at the annual meeting of the Maryland Assessment Consortium and to 72 scoring team…

This study asked preservice and inservice teachers about their views on the characteristics of an effective teacher and sought to discern whether the gender of the participants influenced the responses. In Fall and Spring semesters, 1993-1994, undergraduates (preservice) education students and graduate students (most were inservice teachers)…