A lack of adequate substance abuse information at an elementary school prompted this practicum examining at risk students. Classroom guidance lessons on substance abuse prevention were given, which included small group counseling sessions regarding self-esteem and problem-solving skills, followed by posttests. Classroom guidance lessons revealed a…

Many current efforts to develop large-scale science assessments involve hands-on tasks because of their presumed power to elicit and measure scientific reasoning skills. An analysis of the processes in which students engage while responding to such assessment is needed in order to discover the specific forms of reasoning that tasks elicit. This…

Gender differences were examined in results from the holistic model reading tests developed by the Pennsylvania State Department of Education. Patterns of differences were examined and interpreted within the context of previous reading research. Data were collected from the Testing for Essential Learning and Literacy Skills (TELLS) reading tests…

The purposes of the survey described in this paper were to: (1) produce a database on state efforts to develop systems for assessing educational outcomes; (2) assess state needs for solutions to technical and implementation problems; (3) identify important state-level information and existing databases; and (4) assess efforts to design a…

Portfolio assessment was investigated as a method of evaluating elementary school students' competence in writing. The study comprised an empirical study of the utility and meaningfulness of using a holistic/analytic scoring rubric to score students' portfolios and a qualitative analysis of scoring approaches drawing on raters' critiques of the…

The book presents 13 papers that explore the intriguing and sometimes baffling phenomenon of children's capacity to deal with adversity. It is divided into three sections. The book's opening section provides an overview of stress research and coping strategies. Section 2 focuses on the determinants of competence and investigates the complex…

This book guides teachers on using portfolios and authentic assessment to create reflective students and teachers through specific instruction, examples, and descriptions of many actual elementary school classrooms, teachers, and students who use this approach. Authentic assessment allows students to participate actively in their own learning.…

This study investigated elementary school teachers' perception of their first grade students' interest in multicultural trade books. The study participants included 151 first graders, 17 experienced teachers, and 65 preservice teachers. The study used 15 multicultural trade books and 15 non-multicultural books matched as closely as possible in…

As part of a larger examination of student perspectives in science, social studies and communication arts, this report uses qualitative methodology to explore two teacher-researchers' collaborative teaching of social studies and students' construction of meaning in social studies. Teacher-researchers involved in the overall study included two…

The conference papers in this collection are grouped under the following topics: behavior problems in context; interpersonal relationships; initiatives by systems and schools; and programs in special settings. Papers included are: (1) National Trends in Discipline Policy Development (Roger Slee); (2) Balancing: The Protocols of Discipline (William…

This concept paper outlines the rationale for a project on the development of science curriculum for K-8 high ability learners. The rationale was developed through a synthesis of major recommendations from national science reform reports and from a review of the literature on effective science curriculum for high ability learners. The paper begins…

A study was done to determine what principals, teachers, parents, and children identify as the educational requirements and resources necessary to promote the educational success of Latino children. Four Boston (Massachusetts) elementary schools, all with large Latino student enrollments, were selected for the purposes of the study. Information…

This booklet contains ideas about how families can help children in school in the following basic ways by: (1) teaching their children; (2) learning new things to help their children learn; (3) supporting children and the school; and (4) making decisions about what and how children learn. For each of these areas, a chart is included so that…

This paper describes a functional educational curriculum for students with severe behavior disorders within a hospital setting. The program stressed the meeting of individual needs while using an established, accredited curriculum. Curriculum development considerations discussed include the curriculum's philosophical base, developmental…

As students with limited proficiency in English transition from English-as-a-Second-Language or bilingual education classes to mainstream classes, they are usually first enrolled in physical education, art, and music classes, and then math or science classes. Later, these students are placed in the more challenging mainstream social studies…