Describes a class experiment illustrating students' illusions about their own mortality (often referred to as "unique invulnerability"). The students received information, culled from actuarial tables, concerning age and mortality rates. The students consistently overestimated their own age of death even when told they would do so. (MJP)

Contends that children should be expected to learn to read throughout their participation in Head Start. Maintains that over-reliance on child-centered educational approaches and developmentally appropriate practices may hinder emerging reading skills. Recommends continuing innovation in Head Start, broadening the theoretical perspectives to…

Argues that nonverbal communication in the language classroom can have dramatic results for the students' appreciation for the subject and in the cognitive domain. Notes that the personality and expectations of the teachers, their gestures, tone of voice, and facial expressions have an important effect on language acquisition. (29 references)…

Twenty European American teachers-in-training estimated the grade point averages and IQs of four African American students significantly lower than those of four European American children. In another study, racial attitudes of 58 European American education majors predicted their evaluations of compositions by African American students, Results…

Studies differences in educational and occupational aspirations of 108 New Zealand-born Chinese high school students and 203 European counterparts. School Certificate grades were similar for both samples. Aspirations were consistent with parental expectations, but parental pressure appeared to have a negative effect on Chinese students' perception…

Traditional approaches to defining academic quality (reputational, resources, and outcomes or value-added) are criticized as not providing useful information. An alternative perspective is offered, focusing on fundamental course-level academic processes and defining the quality of such processes as the level of understanding of course content…

In a survey, 80 businesses, mostly small, ranked 13 educational attributes expected of college students with a business education. Factor analysis shows four distinct skill areas expected from an ideal business education program: research, interpersonal, basic, and quantitative skills. In general, employers expect to hire well-rounded students,…

A five-year longitudinal study of undergraduate use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) found that student attitudes were stable, despite technological change; student expectations had increased; and student utilization of CMC was still primarily for course-related information. The study concluded that CMC can be best used as a complement…

Examined scientific reasoning in middle school science students and in scientists that analyzed phenomena explanations in class and in references. Found distinctions, but also reasons why student explanations do and should differ. The resulting conceptual model of student scientific reasoning in context emphasizes three contextual areas: available…

This study investigated the within-classroom uniformity of elementary students' perceptions of teachers' differential behavior, examining students at different achievement levels. Surveys indicated that achievement groups differed in perceptions of learning climate, negative reactions to teachers, and perceptions of teachers' differential behavior…

A study of 10 elementary and secondary teachers skilled at including students with disabilities in general education classrooms found seven unifying characteristics, including tolerant, reflective, and flexible personalities; acceptance of responsibility for all students; positive relationship with special educators; and adjusting expectations for…

This article presents insights from teachers nationwide who have experimented with writing workshops, describing what they see as the essential elements to their success (setting the tone, teacher-student and student-student communication, reflective thinking, high expectations, modeling from favorite authors, and working hard). Software, classic…

Outlines a workshop that discusses cooperative efforts between school library media specialists and college librarians to make the transition easier for college students, and considers several aspects of information literacy, including college faculty expectations, collaboration between librarians and faculty, teaching strategies, and assessment…

Gifted and regular high school students (n=158) completed a questionnaire on beliefs in fixed ability to learn, simple knowledge, quick learning, and certain knowledge; then advised a hypothetical student about going to college despite poor grades and few resources; and reported their feelings toward school and expectations of college demands.…

This Israeli study hypothesized that elementary teachers would make more instructional efforts toward pupils needing little control, i.e., high achieving pupils, and more efforts at socialization of low-achieving pupils. Students completed mathematics and reading tests. Teachers completed a survey about how they directed their instructional and…