This study constructed questionnaire measures of cooperative and competitive orientations, and pilot-tested them with 1,176 elementary school-age 4-H members and non-members. A measure of parent support was also obtained from these children. Factor analyses revealed that competitive and cooperative learning orientations are orthogonal and not…

The U.S. Department of Education's "1999-2000 Schools and Staffing Survey" indicated that teacher shortages are 50 percent higher in urban schools than in suburban schools. Almost a third of the teachers leave the profession during the first three years and nearly half leave after five years. In schools serving low-income communities,…

It has long been recognized that varying achievement goals elicit varying motivational patterns with varying behavioral consequences. Several sets of contrasting goal orientations have been proposed to explain differences in language students' achievement behaviors. A total of 135 third-year (n = 54 male; n = 81 female) students in a preservice…

The working relationship of two novice songwriters is examined in this ethnographic study, which highlights the importance of common goals and values in a songwriting collaboration. Stemming from this core there are a number of sub-themes: the pair saw a popular song as consisting of melody, harmony, and lyrics; they played on the strengths and…

This article describes die development of a mandatory library instruction program for developmental education students in the community and technical college setting. Some considerations for orientation development and helpful hints for success are discussed.

We each carry hopes, dreams, and visions of what our lives and relationships will look like. However, there are times when, in spite of our best efforts, these dreams remain unrealized. This manuscript addresses some unique issues faced by individuals experiencing a dream's death. Although the process described in this manuscript may be…

Casey Brown has moved from a job as a school administrator to one in which she will help teach the school administrators of tomorrow. As she looks back over her university experiences thus far, she shares a few of the tips she has learned in leaping from the world of PK-12 education into the world of higher education. Each suggestion is followed…

Themes of security and opportunity are readily apparent in descriptions of programs designed to assist new students with their college transition; yet it seems that anxiety and, to some extent, fear are even more prevalent in the messages communicated to new students as they embark on their collegiate career. All college and university students…

In our previous work documenting benefits of both mastery and performance-approach goals, we assessed achievement goals for a particular type of student (specifically, the college student) in a particular type of classroom environment (specifically, the large introductory lecture). The current study sought to extend our initial work by testing…

At present, there is disagreement among achievement goal theorists regarding the beneficial or inimical nature of performance-approach goals. This article evaluates performance-approach goals using three criteria: empirical, theoretical, and meta-theoretical (values/beliefs). On the basis of these criteria, we conclude that performance-approach…

This article explores the ways in which gay male presence and contribution to dance education in the US is minimised in order to legitimate male participation and to gain wider social acceptance of dance. Current muted discourses regarding homosexuality in dance pedagogy are not only shortsighted, but also unwittingly reproduce narrow stereotypes…

Supporting students to be self-directed learners in classrooms is currently more important than it has ever been in the past. The rapidly changing nature of society, the demands of the "new economy" and the contemporary understanding of life long learning have combined to highlight the need for students to be increasingly independent learners.…

The story of Bryon Elementary School's 10-year transformation is a story of school improvement. Moreover, it's a story of a cultural change that altered roles, responsibilities, and expectations and led to significant gains in student achievement. A principal, faculty, and staff who were driven by a common vision, who spoke a common language, and…

In this paper, I reflect on how the culture of schooling that I experienced throughout the 1970s and early 1980s scaffolded a formative awareness of sexual difference. Quinlivan and Town have pointed out that "School communities seldom have to move beyond the personal deficit model in attempting to meet the needs of Lesbian and Gay…

In this article, the authors draw on the work of John Dewey and his notions of transactional realism and habits to inform their analysis of the heteronormative subjectivities of pre-service teachers. The authors depict the dynamics of heteronormative attitudes among pre-service teachers and highlight the ways heterosexist beliefs interact with…