Research has shown a decline in motivation and performance for many children as they move from elementary school into middle school; however, research has also shown that the nature of motivational change on entry to middle school depends on characteristics of the learning environment in which students find themselves. This Digest outlines some…

Kindergarten marks a new beginning for parent and child, and presents challenges for parents as their child makes the transition from home to school. This handbook provides a description of what parents can expect of their child's kindergarten program in Alberta, Canada. It describes how young children learn, how learning is assessed, and how…

This practicum project sought to facilitate change in preschool teacher classroom behavior from teacher-directed practice to child-initiated practice. The goals of the practicum focused on changes that would foster child-initiated activities in order to promote healthy and holistic development, positive self-esteem, and resiliency skills in young…

The three issues of the journal on second language teacher education include these articles: "We Need More and Different Flags" (Agnes Martin); "Dealing with Timetabling on Second Language Teacher Training Courses" (Craig Thaine); "Interview with Jill Florent"; "Haiku Idea" (Tim Hahn); "The Hidden…

This digest explores the question, What types of activities and experiences should a good learning environment offer to the young child to help him grow normally and happily? Part 1 focuses on basic considerations in the development of early childhood care and education (ECCE) curricula. Four chapters concern: (1) the learning needs of the young…

The Delta Project involves an interdisciplinary team of 4 middle school teachers and their approximately 100 students working together throughout grades 6, 7, and 8 for the 1990-91, 1991-92, and 1992-93 school years in Elberton (Georgia). The relationships between the classroom structures used by the Delta Team teachers and the motivation of their…

This summary of research in science education for 1989 is organized around 15 major themes. These themes are: (1) criteria and ethics; (2) achievement in science; (3) affect; (4) classroom interactions; (5) cognitive processes; (6) computers; (7) curriculum; (8) instruction; (9) legislation and policy; (10) misconceptions; (11) scientific…

Various aspects of the relationship between students' cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic background and their unequal access to educational opportunities are examined. The theme is that in order to understand the barriers to equality faced by low-income cultural and linguistic minority youth, ways in which social class and ethnicity interact…

An alternative framework that supports the collaboration of principals and teachers, with a focus on the changing roles of teachers and principals as learners and leaders, is presented. A conclusion is that as teachers' belief systems change to respect the image of the learner, principals' belief systems also change to reflect a new image of the…

This report documents the development, implementation, and evaluation of an inservice program designed to facilitate a non-sexist approach to the teaching of science in primary schools. Ten matched pairs of teachers were selected on the basis of a survey questionnaire to participate in the study. Teachers were given help in the teaching of…

Exploring questions about how the classroom environment affects young learners, this book describes how young children from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds have coped with the conditions surrounding them in process oriented writing classrooms. Chapter 1 describes the kinds of activities in which children engage in seemingly chaotic…

This report describes the fifth in a series of investigations of the nature, role, and quality of teacher-developed classroom assessments. The purpose of this research program is to provide a clear picture of the assessment demands of the classroom so teacher educators can plan assessment training that is relevant to teachers' needs. The purpose…

Instruction in English as a second language for differentially prepared college students should be conducted in an environment in which students have input from a wide range of authentic spoken and written language samples, varying in difficulty level. The instructional process should be viewed by the students as neither intimidating nor…

The second phase of a 3-year project examining the effect of a process approach to writing instruction on students' expository reading and writing skills, a study determined the impact of three writing programs that emphasized different aspects of a process-oriented writing environment. Data were gathered from 159 fifth and sixth grade students…

Using ethnographic research design, this study documents educational/social consequences of international migration on children of migrant farmworkers traveling between home bases in Villa Mendoza and Acuitzeramo, Mexico, and French Camp, California. The study reviews conditions faced in school (racial isolation, language minority status,…