In an effort to implement a program of reciprocal teaching dialogues, 6 first-grade teachers orally presented third-grade biology lessons to a group of 6 students, most of whom were identified as at risk for academic difficulty. Teachers aimed to teach students ways to approach learning from text and increase students' understanding of biological…

This book is concerned with the educational underclass of students considered underachieving, remedial, or illiterate, and with the kinds of literacy and liberal arts curricula that can best help them. The book is divided into eight chapters. Chapter 1, "Our Schools and Our Children," reviews the author's experiences with students…

Student characteristics associated with school failure and school dropouts are well documented. This study sought to determine if a subgroup of students could be differentiated prior to high school as at highest risk for secondary school failure and dropout. It also attempted to describe behavioral, academic, and familial differences and…

Designed for developmental educators involved in a Telementoring Project, this instructional unit identifies common causes of poor academic performance by students enrolled in developmental programs. The sections of the unit address: (1) students' lack of personal and/or academic autonomy in terms of expected success, locus of control, and…

A trial program at Montana State University (MSU) was designed to enhance students' chances for academic success by running an experimental seminar for students suspended for the first time. A unique problem exists for MSU students suspended at the end of the spring quarter. Since summer school is not a quarter, those suspended for the first time…

Because thematic statements are too global to aid poor readers in comprehending texts, a series of studies using a common procedure was conducted to determine the relationship between teaching thematic concepts prior to reading and reading comprehension. The thematic organizers used in the studies contained three paragraphs that defined the…

Intended to provide a basis for a sociolinguistic theory of reading by placing reading within a discussion of the formal and functional characteristics of language use in social settings, this book explores the state of the art of reading and literacy, the relations between spoken and written language, and explanations of reading failure. Chapters…

This publication focuses on the retention/promotion debate regarding failing and low-achieving students. An introductory essay describes the inherent limitation in the research done on this issue--the impossibility of obtaining an appropriate control group--and suggests that the retention/promotion quandary can best be resolved by accommodating…

EFL (English as a foreign language) and ESL (English as a second language) are taught in various types of learning environments. In considering types of learning success, the learning environment must be kept in mind. The typical immigrant (a second language learner) has to cope with "difficult" English almost immediately, and is judged…

This manual describes programs to educate seventh grade "differentiated" students in language arts and mathematics. Differentiated students are defined as those who are about two years behind their peers in a given subject; both academic performance and behavior characteristics are factors in students being encouraged to take the…

The document consists of six issues of the "PRISE (Pennsylvania Resources and Information Center for Special Education) Reporter" which cover issues and happenings in the education of the mentally retarded, learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, physically handicapped, visually handicapped, and speech/hearing impaired. Lead articles include the…

In response to the failure of North Lake College's Career Resource Center to meet its intended objectives, this report reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the original center proposal, assesses the present organization of the center, and outlines steps for its reorganization. The paper begins by providing background on the college and the…

Ten annotations of literature in the ERIC system that discuss the pros and cons of grade retention for low-achieving students are presented in this booklet. (Author/MLF)

Many teachers resist staff development programs because they believe that "staff development" is a euphemism for "staff evaluation" and are suspicious of an administration collecting quantitative material on teaching for any reason. Similarly, there exists a competitiveness among teachers that precludes complete trust. In recent years, an increase…

The grading system at the University of North Carolina at Asheville before fall 1978 provided four designations: H (honors); G (good or well above average); P (pass or satisfactory); and F (failure). This range does not provide a grade for unsatisfactory but passing work. It was suspected that this led teachers to give "average" grades…