This study examined the effects of teacher aides on students' academic achievement, addressing: whether the presence of a full-time aide in K-3 classrooms would affect student achievement; whether the presence of an aide in the primary grades would affect students' later academic achievement (grades 4, 6, and 8); and whether the nature of aide…

This action research project reports on the effects of classroom size on the quality of work conditions, academic achievement, and students' behavior. The kindergarten through third grade levels were targeted at three schools, one in a suburban setting and the other two in a growing rural area. For the 1999-2000 school year, the urban school had…

An empirical evaluation of the federal class-size reduction (CSR) program in Wake County, North Carolina, during the 1999-2000 school year is presented. The qualitative process evaluation showed implementation issues involving the mechanics and the meaning of CSR. Often, schools did not understand where CSR occurred because of changing enrollment…

This chapter describes how cooperative learning provides one means of making the best of the less than ideal situation that teachers face when facilitating learning in large classes. The chapter begins with a description of some of the difficulties teachers confront when using group activities with large classes. Next, background on cooperative…

Correlation statistics were computed between class size and drop-out rate for mathematics classes in two suburban community colleges. Correlations were near zero. (JP)

The determination to overcome obstacles springs, in very large part, from the depth of a teacher's sense of commitment. (Author)

A 30-minute lesson on exponents was taught to 249 fourth graders assigned randomly to groups of 1, 2, 5, or 23. Students in the smaller groups had better attainment of ten objectives than did those in the group of 23. Individual instruction was better than instruction in groups of five. (MS)

Reviews Martin N. Olsen's research on variables which affect quality learning in the classroom. (MM)

Discusses the process by which students become attracted to classes. (JOW)

Describes results of a study of the effects of declining enrollment on 200 high schools in the North Central Association, and then lists some positive and negative effects of declining enrollment. (JM)

Lists the strengths and weaknesses of small schools and then makes recommendations for capitalizing on their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses. (JM)

The Educational Research Service examines two meta-analyses of the class size/student achievement literature and concludes that they do not provide new evidence and that many of their conclusions are misleading or unjustified. (IRT)

An author of a meta-analysis of research on student achievement and class size answers criticism of his work. (IRT)

Four observations of 16 agricultural science faculty at work showed that classroom discourse was predominantly at lower cognitive levels. Classes of 51 or more had the fewest higher-level thinking opportunities and 400-level courses had the greatest. The factor having the greatest effect on thinking opportunities was the instructor. (SK)

Reanalyzes literature on the effect of class size on student achievement, showing that results of quantitative summaries of the literature depend critically on whether studies are accorded equal weight. Performs a cost-benefit analysis of class size reduction using data from the Tennessee STAR class size experiment. Results suggest that the…