This study investigates the relationship between postsecondary aspirations and vocational/educational self-efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, perceived educational barriers, and sources of support among a sample of rural Appalachian high school students. Using Social Cognitive Career Theory as the theoretical framework, vocational/educational…

This paper examines a preservice teacher initiative whose overarching goal is to begin to reverse the cycle of educational failure for students labeled "at-risk." Although research in teacher preparation has explored the ways in which preservice teachers learn to teach, few studies have focused on how teaching in an alternative high school…

Teachers inherit and experience historical and current identificatory racial meanings born of social inequality that inform their teaching. Such meanings may undergird White teachers' lower expectations for Black youth as opposed to those of Black teachers. In accord with other studies, this inquiry addresses the invisibility of Whiteness as…

This study explored mothers' beliefs about their children's educational and occupational futures, and it examined relationships between mothers' beliefs and children's academic achievement and between mothers' beliefs and maternal perceptions of parental responsibilities. A sample of 141 mothers and their first- or fourth-grade child participated…

The goal of this manual is to produce a learning climate in which students will master certain academic skills and knowledge regardless of their socioeconomic or minority background. This second edition provides materials, references, ideas, and a framework for developing a positive learning environment and an effective school learning climate.…

This study explored middle school teachers' perspectives on and expectations of adolescence and puberty, using observations and interviews of 15 teachers in two Japanese middle schools and two United States (U.S.) middle schools, as well as a survey of teachers in selected schools in both nations. Teachers in the U.S. described puberty as being…

This study identified patterns in general education teachers' accommodations for students with disabilities, focusing on grouping practices, teacher expectations, and modifications. These patterns were examined in order to provide a multivariate description of integration practices on which to base practice and policy decisions. Twenty-two…

This study describes and explains changes in ninth- and tenth-grade social studies and science courses that emerged in the pedagogy of classroom teachers as a result of participation in a detracking project in an urban high school. The detracking project represented a profound change in the organization of school curricula. Four social studies and…

Urban school superintendents from Pennsylvania and New Jersey met to consider issues related to the improvement of urban secondary schools. Although the public is pessimistic about all urban public schools, it regards secondary schools with particular pessimism. There are 70 urban high schools in New Jersey and 81 in Pennsylvania. Superintendents…

This study investigated the effects of classroom composition on achievement. The analysis focused on the assessment of classroom homogeneity with respect to the socioeconomic background and general intelligence of the students. In addition, the extent to which classroom composition affects the standards the teachers employ and how these standards…

Policies and practices related to grading at 14 colleges and universities (8 public and 6 private) and how they have changed between 1980 and 1990 were studied along with the grading orientations and practices of over 500 faculty members. Changes between 1980 and 1990 that may have affected grades include greater prescription of the curriculum,…

This volume of an annual publication concerning issues relevant to Utah's two-year colleges provides the following articles by community college faculty on instructional issues and methods: (1) "Teaching Real-World Math Concepts in an Introductory Algebra Telecourse," by Loretta Palmer; (2) "Collaborative Learning in the Community…

The attitudes of principals toward ability grouping in the public schools of South Carolina were studied, emphasizing the degree to which principals feel that ability grouping contributes to the quality of education. Also examined were differences in attitudes of elementary school and secondary school principals (black and white, male and female,…

This book examines the effects of tracking on public education, makes a case for "untracking" as a key education reform, and describes successful untracking efforts. Tracking is an educational practice that groups children of similar abilities and achievement levels together into homogeneous groups. "Untracking" is the process…

The findings of numerous empirically based research studies reflecting the views of teachers, students, and administrators can be used to identify a "core of techniques" associated with effective community college teachers. Community college teaching is generally more student-centered than four-year college instruction, with the choice of teaching…