Social studies peer work groups (PWGs) in fifth grade classrooms were more frequent than math PWGs and involved a broader variety of student behaviors and cognitive levels. The majority of social studies groups were cooperative in both task and reward structures. For both subjects, student involvement was highest in cooperatively task-structured…

Comparison of videotapes of inexperienced and established junior high school teachers on their first, second, tenth, and twenty-eighth days of school provided insight into student needs and the teacher behaviors that set the stage for instructional success. Teacher supervisors can use such videotapes to help orient new teachers. (PGD)

Describes research in two different domains: novices learning programing, and school pupils interpreting Cartesian graphs. Findings in each domain are discussed, but the main focus is an examination of the extent to which general principles and issues apply across both domains. Research implications for instructional design are discussed.…

Reports on a project in which observations of student and teaching assistant behavior were used to redesign a teaching unit on recrystallization. Comments on the instruction manual, starting points for teaching the unit, and list of objectives with related tasks are included. (JN)

British students enrolled in a pre-vocational Certificate of Further Education (CFE) program were interviewed to determine their attitudes towards and views of the program. The students were very committed to the program because they saw it as a means to an end, e.g., as a way to enter another course. (RM)

In an attempt to locate possible antecedents for racial differences in science achievement, measures of math and reading achievement, causal attribution, attitude toward school success, and in-class behavior were acquired from students in desegregated science classrooms. (Author/LMO)

Student promotion or retention is determined by various criteria: grades, student performance, competency tests, attendance records, and conduct. Representative court decisions bearing on each of the criteria are discussed, and guidelines for the development of promotion and retention policy are outlined. (MD)

Presents a model illustrating distance education students' perceptions of their aims for studying a course. Analyses of verbal reports of four students using this model showed that their goals differed from those of the teacher and influenced how they studied. Relevance for external course design is discussed. (23 references). (MBR)

A study was conducted to quantify the laboratory time-on-task behavior of students enrolled in selected programs of vocational horticulture and to relate variables to time-on-task behavior. Standing idle was the most frequent reason for coding behavior off task. Male pupils had higher time-on-task scores than female pupils. (CT)

Reviews research on poetry in the classroom. The first part concentrates on findings that emphasize the importance of the individual teacher; the second part presents teachers', students', and observers' perception on what it is that a good poetry teacher does. (HOD)

Suggests that text anxiety is a combination of student skill deficits, emotional reactivity, and negative self-attributions. Proposes the use of multimodal approaches to reduce that anxiety. (FL)

After summarizing the relevant federal laws regarding the educational rights of handicapped students, the author reviews recent cases regarding such students' suspension and expulsion. From court decisions, conclusions are then drawn about the legally allowable disciplining of handicapped students. (JW)

This review summarizes research findings on the topics of impulsive-reflexive cognitive style of problem solving, first graders' behavior suggesting racial segregation, a reanalysis of "High School and Beyond," children's collaborative problem solving while sharing a computer, the match between tests instruction, and students' choice of…

To explore the structure of academic work in classrooms, a case analysis was conducted of the academic tasks accomplished in three English classes taught by the same teacher. The authors conclude that the study contributes to the development of a language with which to describe curriculum dimensions of the teaching process. (MJL)