Discussion of cognitive process research on writing focuses on a study of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade middle school students that tested a generative-evaluative model of composition. Treatments for experimental and control groups of ability-grouped students are described, and results are analyzed. (58 references) (LRW)

Effects of gender and disagreements on learning during sociocognitive interaction were investigated with 33 pairs of children between 5 and 7 years old (34 males and 32 females) using spatial perspective-taking tasks. Disagreements during social interaction can facilitate or inhibit learning. Effects of gender pairing are discussed. (SLD)

Summarizes research on middle level schools and students that contributes to ongoing debates concerning grade span, school size, grouping of students, departmentalization, curriculum, instruction, advisory groups, interdisciplinary teaming, school-transition activities, extra-help programs, and student evaluation practices in the middle grades.…

This paper reviews historical trends in provision of services to young gifted children, with particular emphasis on inhibiting factors preventing greater services. Work with young gifted children and their families is then discussed, focusing on children from upper- and middle-class backgrounds, with handicapping conditions, and from low-income…

Examines students' (25 low achieving fourth graders) understanding of conceptual features of decimals. Assessment results indicated that students' thinking was influenced by the types of concrete materials used to represent decimals; that low achievers' understanding of some important properties of decimals increased; and that understanding grew…

A peer nomination assessment of 5 domains of children's competence was administered to 1,249 elementary school students. Factor analysis revealed two positive and two negative factors. Results indicate the structure of peer's perceptions of children's competence, and justify use of the measure to complement other methods of evaluation. (SLD)

The influence of ability, self-efficacy, positivity of role-modeling, and role conflict on higher-level career aspirations was investigated among women majoring in (1) mathematics, physical science, engineering; and (2) biological sciences. Differences between the two groups fit the model. Findings suggest interventions to increase women's…

Employing standardized achievement tests to ascertain educational quality is like measuring temperature with a tablespoon. Such tests are prone to testing-teaching mismatches, omitted items, and confounded causation problems. Actually, three factors influence students' scores: what's taught in school, native intellectual ability, and out-of-school…

Articulates the idea that a track is a type of social position in students' relations with particular teachers and course work. Uses students' profiles of course work in high school to derive eight curricular positions associated with status characteristics and students' attitudes. Includes statistical analysis that links variables to achievement.…

A study examined the efficacy of the Restricted Academic Task in evaluating the effects of stimulant medication in 149 children (ages 5-17) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The measure consists of standardized observation of a child performing an academic-like task, and was found to be both reliable and valid. (Author/CR)

Presents a diagnostic teaching unit in general science designed to identify effective learning strategies for seventh-grade students with learning disabilities or behavior disorders. The unit is intended to identify effective strategies for students in reading comprehension, mathematics problem solving, and memory. Detailed instructions for four…

The sensitivity of two curriculum-based measurement procedures, maze (a modified cloze procedure), and oral reading, were evaluated with six students with mental retardation and concomitant emotional/behavioral disorders. Although teacher acceptability of the two procedures was equal, ideographic comparisons revealed oral reading fluency to be a…

Introduces a special issue devoted to education-health linkages. The scope of coverage is quite broad. Papers treat education's connections with specific health-related behaviors, full-time employees' health insurance coverage, medical care/lifestyle choices, nurses' wage profiles, low birthweight children's capabilities, smoking decisions,…

A survey of 42 Irish and Belgian blind and partially sighted students (ages 12 to 18) and interviews with 6 Irish and Belgian mathematics teachers found that few of the students took higher-level mathematics examinations, due primarily to mathematical-access difficulties. A computer-based system providing both menu and command (keyboard and voice)…

Progress of British students embarking on doctoral degrees in the 1980s was analyzed for factors in completion of doctoral degrees. Results show funding had insignificant positive impact on completion rate, completion rate was highest in the sciences, ability (measured by first degree type) affected doctoral completion, and part-time status (or…