Examines the relationship between the academic performance of 347 elementary school children and a number of cognitive and social factors. A path analysis indicated that the girls' overall higher performance was a result of greater social responsiveness and compliance with adult direction, whereas achievement among the boys was related to greater…

This review of 28 studies involving children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder concludes that there is little empirical support for cognitive training's clinical utility. The paper discusses cognitive training's efficacy as a single intervention and as an adjunct to stimulant treatment, and its impact on cognitive, academic, and…

This article traces the origin and development of special educational opportunities offered to students who are exceptionally able in mathematics, focusing on the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth at Johns Hopkins University and the Center for the Advancement of Academically Talented Youth. (Author/JDD)

Presents results from 2 British studies relating preschool reading skills and reading attainment reached by age 11. Substantiates and extends earlier research that correlated early letter identification with reading ability at age seven. Also indicates no support for hypothesis that letter sounding rather than naming predicts subsequent reading…

The conventional method of measuring ability--based on items with assumed true parameter values obtained from a pretest--is compared to a Bayesian method that deals with the uncertainties of such items. Data from a 1987 American College Testing Program mathematics test indicate that maximum likelihood/Bayesian techniques underestimate uncertainty.…

Considers whether ability grouping can be implemented more effectively than is typical explores the possibility of high-quality instruction in low-ability classes using data from 112 eighth- and ninth-grade ability-grouped English classes. Two examples of apparently effective instruction in low tracks are presented. (SLD)

Twenty elementary school teachers and their principals in a school for the gifted generated a list of student characteristics associated with academic achievement. The Delphi technique was applied to obtain a consensus. Results are obtained in terms of use of the Delphi technique and the usefulness of teacher perceptions. (SLD)

Describes a middle school program that focuses on creating educational experiences that foster life-long learning for all students. The Discovery Program provides a range of differentiated teaching/learning activities, including research competitions, language-arts studies, social-action projects, art exhibitions, mathematics projects, and…

Describes a federally funded Javits project that involved two rural elementary schools with a primarily Hispanic population. The project was designed to develop an alternative community-based assessment procedure for identifying gifted minority students. Identified students were taught using a developed science curriculum that focused on problem…

A study examined differences between teacher ratings of 87 Anglo-American and 63 Hispanic fifth-grade students based on the students' ethnic status and acculturation level. Anglo-American students were rated higher on characteristics relating to learning, motivation, creativity, and leadership. Highly acculturated Hispanic students received higher…

Compared reading, writing, and mathematics achievement of Title I and non-Title I third graders in comparable multiage and single-age classrooms in three school districts. Found higher achievement among non-Title I students in multiage settings when compared to those in a single-age setting. No setting differences were observed for Title I…

Data from 882 high school students in 48 mathematics classes demonstrate that student achievement is significantly lower in general-track classes than in college-preparatory classes, with achievement in transition classes (classes in California and New York bridging the gap between elementary and college-preparatory mathematics) falling between…

Reports the results of an analysis of science-related writing tasks of boys and girls. Indicates there were gendered differences in writing style and content, but similarities in quality. Reveals a narrower gender gap than that found when observing science and writing separately. Discusses practices for minimizing gendered differences in the…

A review of the research on the talent-search identification protocol of gifted students finds talent-search scores on Scholastic Assessment Tests at the junior-high level are valid indicators of students who can succeed in courses that are accelerated in terms of content and learning pace. Effects may be especially positive for academically…

Spatial aptitude tests designed for elementary school children were given to third-grade students from both suburban and rural schools in Pennsylvania. Results were scrutinized by the declared favorite subjects of the participants and organized by gender. Students who preferred science and mathematics did better on spatial tests than students who…