Examined elementary and junior high school students in grades 2, 5, and 7 to determine baseline data about student performance on mental computation. Reports performance levels, difficulties of different types of mental computation, and preferences for doing computations mentally, with calculators, or by hand for each grade level. (MDH)

The implementation of a parent training session with 15 culturally diverse parents in Hawaii preceding a parent-professional conference on transition planning for high school students with disabilities resulted in increased knowledge about transition by participating parents but no significant differences in transition meeting participation…

Five boys and five girls each in grades one through six (n=60 students) asked controversial questions in interviews, recognized the lack of social consensus on the controversial topics and made subtle distinctions between controversial and noncontroversial topics. Implications for discussion of controversial issues in the classroom are discussed.…

Argues that public schools often ignore the strategic and cultural resources, termed funds of knowledge, that Mexican-American households contain. These funds are a key to understanding the cultural systems of Mexican-American children and can be useful assets in the classroom. (SLD)

Reports on the relationship between students' propositional knowledge, measured by concept mapping tasks, and their study strategies, measured by self-report questionnaires, as it relates to the concept of photosynthesis as presented in a first-year biology course. Results indicate that involved, purposeful study strategies, prompted by relevant…

It is argued that the insights of African-American scholars have had limited impact on the dominant paradigm of the White intellectual establishment. Examples are given of scholars such as C. G. Woodson. The implications of African-American scholarship for teacher education are discussed. (SLD)

Calls for education improvement are often predicated on a decline in U.S. education. Past U.S. high school students' knowledge is examined through U.S. history test data from 1915 to 1925 and national achievement test data for 1932 to 1965. Evidence does not support a decline in student knowledge. (SLD)

Examines current theory and research about educating teachers concerning diversity, cultural pluralism, and equity. Explores how teacher educators attempt to transfer multicultural skills, beliefs, and knowledge in ways that help every child learn. Every teacher needs to incorporate cultural diversity to acknowledge the different needs and goals…

Describes a survey of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among inner city seventh graders (mostly ethnic minorities). Findings indicate a lack of knowledge and desire to learn more, supporting the possibility that improving AIDS transmission knowledge would result in more tolerance and less…

Describes the development of two instruments for use with preservice and practicing teachers: Attitudes toward Computer Technologies and Self-Efficacy for Computer Technologies. Graduate and undergraduate students completed the instruments. Results provide initial instrument validation. The paper presents data on content validity and results of…

It is argued that teacher assessment should be extended to include students' learning gains. The conditions that must be met for such an assessment system to be implemented are described, and some alternative strategies for extending the focus of teacher evaluation and program evaluation to include student learning are discussed. (SLD)

Educators in four Canadian provinces were surveyed to determine their knowledge of rights in educational matters. There was considerable self-confessed ignorance among the 1,137 respondents, with only 5 of the 14 questions answered correctly by a majority. Differences in responses of rural and urban educators and teachers from denominational and…

Examined the impact of behavioral, personal, and environmental factors on fourth graders' dietary practices, using a social cognitive theory framework. Survey results highlighted social cognitive variables that significantly influenced dietary behaviors: gender, race, socioeconomic status, fruit and vegetable availability at home, nutrition…

A survey of 166 regular and special-education teachers concerning allowable accommodations on statewide assessment tests found only 21% reported that they used allowed accommodations. Teachers' knowledge of allowable accommodations was low and suggests some students are unnecessarily exempted from participation. Results support preservice and…

Studied reading comprehension, vocabulary, general knowledge, and print exposure of 11th graders who completed reading battery 10 years earlier. Found that first-grade reading ability predicted all 11th-grade outcomes--even when cognitive ability was partialed out--and was linked to print exposure, even after 11th-grade reading comprehension…