In this report, the nature of anxiety is considered in historical perspective, and the concepts of trait and state anxiety are discussed. Methods for measuring these constructs are also described. In addition, hypotheses about the effects of anxiety on learning, formulated in terms of Spence-Taylor Drive Theory and Spielberger's Trait-State…

Reading innovations incorporated into the Newton, Massachusetts, school system are discussed. The program emphasizes individual differences, the influence of the home environment in developing attitudes towards reading, and the importance of prereading experiences for kindergarten children. The basal reading program, the individualized reading…

This document articulates a philosophy of language arts that is based on the teacher's recognition of the need for an idividualized rate of growth for each child. Writing is presented as a personal and practical means of communication, and writing skills are listed that should be taught in the writing program. The goals for an effective creative…

A description is provided of a computer-based simulation of an instructional system which adapts the learning environment to the individual's unique attributes for processing information and for being motivated. The main purposes of the simulation are: 1) to introduce, as attributes for individualizing instruction, information processing variables…

The major results and conclusions of a program of research concerned primarily with the relationship of cognitive abilities to learning are summarized. The major purpose of this research was to develop theorems of instruction related to the interaction of task variables and individual difference variables and to develop them in a manner relevant…

This book, recommended for grade three, is a teaching aid to help children learn skills essential for successful living, develop social competence, and acquire respect for individual differences. Because children learn by doing things with others, small groups of four are suggested for classroom activities. There are seven group activity sheets,…

This paper reports on the development of the Youth Bends Easily Instrument designed to assess children's attitudes toward human differences. The instrument was commissioned by the Madison Public Schools (Wisconsin) to evaluate the Individual Differences program designed to help primary grade children deal with racial, physical, and social…

A modified Montessori nursery school program operating in a private urban school serving a racially heterogeneous population was evaluated. The project called for investigating the educational effects of the program on both Head Start and middle class children. The impression was that children participated in the project differentially. That is,…

A study was undertaken, in compliance with the Women's Educational Equity Act of 1974 (part of the Education Amendments in 1974) to identify the extent and kinds of sex discrimination in access to postsecondary education. The analysis of the data includes participation rates of women in various forms of postsecondary education, the impact of…

Describes social behaviors of preschool children in relation to second-language development observed in a multicultural preschool program. The discussion includes examples of behaviors observed early in the year and of early stages of cooperative and sociodramatic play, and observations on the children's cultural adjustments and individual…

Provides rationale for using trade books rather than textbooks for instruction in content areas. Describes a specific teaching strategy, which includes readiness, reading, and responses for encouraging the development of thinking skills and independent learning. (DST)

The research effort reported in this document addresses the important national need for determining the validity of large-scale content assessments in English with students who are in the process of acquiring English as a second language. Often these students have been excluded from such assessments, but there have been recent, growing efforts to…

This handbook provides a guide to assist African American parents of children with learning disabilities to become advocates for their children and raise awareness about learning differences. An introductory section notes the disproportionate risk of African American boys for being labeled mentally retarded and placed in special education. The…

The purpose of this research brief is to summarize the literature on research conducted with at-risk students. Emerging from the research are three central groups of factors that are characteristic of at-risk students: (1) social and family background; (2) personal problems; and (3) school factors. In spite of the presence of several risk factors,…

The aim of this study was to assess the interrelations of social support and school attitudes as predictors of achievement across a culturally and economically diverse sample of preadolescent children. Parent and peer support were assessed along with parent and peer attitudes toward school. Achievement indices were the child's own attitudes,…