A recent study comparing Asian and American students identified three factors that contribute to superior performance of elementary school children. These are: (1) amount of class time devoted to academics and direct instruction; (2) parent support of academic activities; and (3) student effort. The study and its findings are discussed. (MT)

American students perform poorly in mathematics compared to their peers in other countries, especially Japan and China. This article examines underlying causes for these deficiencies, including American complacency (in contrast to Asian diligence) and differing educational practices and expectation levels. Includes four references. (MLH)

This article reports on the first year of a Madeline Hunter program implementation study. Thirteen teachers in two schools were observed before and after a three-month intervention to identify relationships between staff development programs, teacher implementation of the program, student engaged rates, and student achievement in reading and…

Three approaches demonstrated the usefulness of visual feedback and auditory feedback to improve the on-task behavior and academic productivity of deaf multihandicapped adolescents. The approaches feature inexpensive portable equipment that do not require lengthy teacher training. (CL)

Data from 2,100 two-parent, two-child households were analyzed to determine the relationships of demographic variables, ownership of 11 appliances, and time spent in four categories of household tasks. Little evidence was found that appliance ownership is related to less time being spent in household tasks. (Author/CT)

The relationship of minutes of reading instruction to the gains in reading performance for 3,374 elementary school children shows consistent positive findings between large- and small-group classroom instruction and reading gains. Some of the negative results for individualized instruction may be due to school assignment practices. (Author/MLF)

Observation of teacher and student behaviors in four areas (teacher cognitive, teacher management, student on-task and student off-task) revealed that teachers spent 48 percent of total classroom time in cognitive activities. (Author/CL)

This check list contains tips for parents to help students reinforce and build upon what children learn at school: (1) Set a consistent time each day for doing homework; (2) Encourage children to make a homework checklist; (3) Provide assistance to help get started on a task; (4) Help children make a list of all needed materials before starting…

Despite the importance of first grade as a crucial period in a young student's academic development, little is known nationally about how much time first-graders actually spend in class on various subjects or about the kinds of activities and skills that they work on in class. This Issue Brief details how often per week and how much time per day…

The on-task behavior of a visually impaired 11 year-old increased from 49 percent to 96 percent over a nine-week period when she received tokens and social reinforcement for on-task behavior and assignment completion. (Author/CL)

Provides an overview of the research findings on the relationship between time spent on learning and student academic achievement and discusses implications of this research for improving the use of time spent on learning. (MP)

It was concluded that biofeedback-induced relaxation training increased attention to task and reduced impulsivity but did not affect the measure of locus of control on the population studied. (Author/SW)

To improve test scores and instructional quality, school districts in New Brunswick (New Jersey) and Adams County (Colorado) implemented programs to increase student time on task. Administrators introducing time on task programs should involve teachers and principals in planning, answer six staff questions, and provide support for necessary…

Discussion of computer-mediated communication in open and distance learning focuses on how learner support of online-intensive and interactive forms of learning and teaching are conceptualized. Topics include virtual learning environments; collaborative learning; interpersonal response; identity; interaction; time and duration; institutional…

Compares time allocated for basal and other reading in grades one through six between 1961 and 1985 in eight geographic regions of the United States. Finds the greatest increase in the Upper Midwest and Southwest and a significant increase in time allocated for content and free reading in the Middle Atlantic. (NH)