Six factors which influence carryover of innovative teaching methods (learned in teacher education programs) to elementary schools were studied. Lack of college instruction in organizing and managing the classroom for small group and individualized mathematics instruction was the main reason for not implementing the innovations learned in college…

Analyzes data from the 1988 National Educational Longitudinal Study, which suggests that school policies and practices can reduce or exacerbate learning differences among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Results indicated that schools organized around a communal mission with more holistic assessment fared better than…

By evaluating her use and delivery of praise, an elementary teacher discovered that its quality, not quantity, had the most impact on students. Teachers can increase the positive effects of praise by praising sparingly but carefully, directing it to students who respond well to it, and ensuring contingency, specificity, and credibility. (Author/SM)

Examines the definition of basic mathematics skills in a discussion of meeting the needs of mathematics students in a changing society. One basic skill is understanding formulas that are used in real life. Challenges teachers to teach students to reason mathematically, improve communication, and build mathematical connections with real-life…

Describes the research rationale for the developmental course offered to entering students at Upsala College (NJ) called "Precise Thinking." This skills-development program integrates reading, writing, and mathematical skills with underlying metacognitive processes to teach students perseverance and strategies for problem-solving and self-directed…

Examined whether students' prereading and prearithmetic test results varied as a result of the teaching strategy used. Subjects were 446 teachers and 5,490 children, 4-6 years old, from Dutch infant classes 1 and 2 of primary education. Socioethnic background was found to be more significant in explaining test results than teaching method. (JPB)

This study reports the characteristics of the 4,751 high school students (out of 374,527) who achieved perfect scores in 1 or more subtests of the 1991 PLAN academic performance test, an academic assessment of 10th graders. Comparisons by gender, ethnicity, and subtest (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning) and a profile of…

Examines research on the influence of classroom design on student learning attitudes and behavior and presents two case studies on the remodeling of five classrooms in two high schools to accommodate new instructional technology for teaching algebra. Highlights include lighting, color, surface materials, noise, climate control, and seating.…

Presents picture books, fiction, nonfiction, biographies, folklore, and poetry for young students (kindergarten-grade 8) studying China. Suggests activities based on the books using art, physical education, language arts, research skills, math, science, geography, and drama. Highlights books and collections of folk tales with stories about…

Presents a series of lesson plans that include investigations in science, mathematics, geography, current events, and social studies. The cross-curricular activities help students broaden their understanding of time as well as of the "neighbors" who live in their own and other time zones. (MJP)

This article discusses using attributional retraining techniques with gifted girls to reduce gender differences in mathematics and science performance. Following an overview of the most important retraining techniques, two studies with extremely promising results are described, the first with 42 German high school students in mathematics, and the…

Describes two intuitive rules underlying students' conceptions in mathematics and science that are not always compatible with usually accepted scientific ideas. The intuitive rules are: "More of A, more of B" and "Subdivision processes can always be repeated." In teacher education, it is important to raise instructors'…

Twenty learning-handicapped and 20 nonhandicapped intermediate-grade children worked on a mathematics problem-solving task on a microcomputer. Their social and instructional interactions were compared as group configuration (individual, homogeneous dyad, and heterogeneous dyad) and task difficulty changed. The computer's effect on the conversation…

Gender differences in scholastic achievement as a function of measurement method were examined by comparing performance of 739 15-year-old boys and 758 15-year-old girls in Irish high schools on multiple-choice and free-response tests of mathematics, Irish, and English achievement. Method-based gender differences are discussed. (SLD)

Describes study that was conducted to evaluate the effects of a computer-assisted remediation program on the mathematics skills and self-concept of teacher education students at a predominantly Black college. Socioeconomic status and sex differences are examined, and treatments of experimental and control groups are described. (five references)…