Program for Assessment and Support is an early intervention program for at-risk children in the Aurora (Colorado) Public Schools. PAS teachers work side-by-side with regular classroom teachers, concentrating on children needing extra background and support. Key elements are high expectations for students, a developmental curriculum, cooperation…

Research findings on effective learning are limited, since mental activity is covert and learning can only be inferred from subsequent responses. Integrating such concepts as ability, motivation, self-efficacy, and perseverance is difficult. The respective roles of modeling, expectations, instruction, and feedback are not well understood.…

College faculty do not know enough about the current generation of college students, what they seek in college, how they spend time, what they expect of faculty and themselves. To accomplish the college's objectives for students' intellectual and personal development, they need the cooperation of student personnel workers, who work with students…

Concludes that, despite questionnaire and interview data revealing that teachers attempted to ignore the influence of gender perception in their assessment of student narrative writing, they did construct the writer's gender while reading student narratives. Suggests that the gender perceptions narrowed the lenses through which teachers assessed…

Examined how encouragement and teachers' expectations influenced the way female students actively position themselves as high achievers in science classrooms. Results with 43 Year 10 Australian students show the importance of encouragement in student attitudes about science achievement. (SLD)

Responds to comments by Eisenberg (Anne F.) and Shepperd (Jerry W.) to the authors' arguments about student consumerism and postmodern society. Notes common ground among all four authors, and addresses points on which they differ: the importance of faculty adapting to students' expectations and the role of the academy as guardian of knowledge.…

Determines when U.S. children begin to self-handicap, that is, to reduce preparation effort before evaluations. Finds that the high-self-esteem third graders acted adaptively by practicing more for the evaluation task, while the high-self-esteem sixth graders prepared more only if they had been reminded of their personal resources beforehand. (CMK)

Investigates the five factors that affect teachers' use of discussion as a means to promote more frequent use of that strategy. Shows that teachers' perceptions of their students influence their teaching techniques. Concludes that familiarizing future teachers about discussion as a teaching strategy could encourage its use in the classroom. (CMK)

Examined predictors and sequelae of homesickness in 293 boys, ages 8 to 16 years, who spent two weeks at an overnight camp. Found that the "homesick disposition" and little prior separation together accounted for 69% of the variance in self-reported homesickness. Interpersonal attitudes and perceived control predicted 70% of the variance…

Examines the relation of being labeled as intellectually gifted to a mid-life appraisal of having lived up to one's abilities and to psychological well-being at age 80. Learning at a younger age of membership in a study of intellectual giftedness was related to less likelihood of believing that one has lived up to one's intellectual abilities at…

Examined predictions of 48 four- and five-year-old (mostly European Australian) children concerning the sex of persons carrying out common activities or occupations on television. Responses reveal strong gender stereotyped expectations, which were strongest for masculine stereotyped activities. Stereotyped judgments also increased with age. (SLD)

An informal survey of state superintendent associations and lawyers representing superintendents reveals little change in top executives' contracts over the past decade. Mandatory evaluations and renewable (non-"evergreen") contracts are becoming common; pay-for-performance measures are emerging, yet limited. Contractual and job-leaving…

Describes the author's experiences and their relation to the notion of educating the "whole student" expounded by student development theories. Suggests that one role educators must explore is that of assisting students in determining their own parameters and learning to accept responsibility for their decisions. (MAB)

Successful classroom teachers have the skills to teach students with disabilities. Teachers should consult with colleagues and specialists; welcome disabled students; accept full teaching responsibility; facilitate students' belonging; clarify expectations with team members; adapt activities and arrangements; provide active, participatory learning…

Summarizes a study addressing two common misconceptions on U.S. college campuses: that choice of friendships is random and that minorities are given preferential treatment by faculty and administrators. Survey results (with 144 Caucasians and 69 minority students) showed that teachers often had low expectations of minorities and that socialization…