An Alternative Education Program is discussed which uses existing educational personnel and funds to provide determined and persistent identification and intervention for potentially delinquent, nonachieving students in junior high school. Counselor interest and trust are stressed in working with students. Program development, criteria, and…

An experimental study indicates that branched stories (fictional narratives containing a series of episodes, each of which ends with three possible plot developments) successfully improve the attentiveness, attitudes, and comprehension scores of Black, junior high school, low achievers. (Author/GC)

The behavior of 22 nonproficient college readers in a critical reading situation was investigated by examining the criteria they used to evaluate the usefulness of an expository passage as a source of information for a report. Results indicated that they focused too heavily on factual content. (MKM)

An interview with an outstanding teacher reveals an innovative discipline policy as well as methods for motivating low-achieving students. (LH)

Describes the utilization of graphic cues, by low-achieving college freshmen, in its relation to syntactic and semantic factors. (JM)

Reports on anecdotal evidence gained from interviews with university engineering lecturers which supports the theory that basic mathematical deficiencies in engineering students originate from the National Curriculum. Argues that the system is failing the students, not that the students are failing the system. A survey also illustrates the lack of…

Argues that research and the author's own experience show that working in groups and emphasizing learning about a topic helps students, especially low achievers, access and use information more effectively. Describes several forms of collaborative research for low achievers; offers guidelines for collaborative research; and presents an overview of…

Examines the developmental spellings of 63 fourth-grade students who are poor readers by analyzing written story retellings. Suggests categories of misspellings that may demonstrate developmental spelling strategies used by this sample. Reviews current research to present possible interpretations of strategies used by the group. Summarizes…

Examined study habits in foreign-language courses. Low performers reported that: they frequently include irrelevant information in their notes; when they have difficulty, they do not seek help; they put their notes away after tests and never consult them again; they have to be in the mood before studying; they doodle/daydream when studying; and…

Examines school-improvement plans of three low-performing schools on probation using content analysis of the accountability systems in Maryland, Kentucky, and San Francisco. (Contains 38 references.) (PKP)

The discussion of the role of motivation in study skills instruction examines the behavioral definition of motivation and the notion that a student's previous reinforcement experience influences information gained in the learning process, and gives suggestions to teachers for facilitating a learning environment for low achievers. (MSE)

The accuracy of recall and use of appropriate rehearsal strategies was compared for learning-disabled and low-achieving adolescents. There was little difference in performance between the two groups; both groups tended to employ appropriate executive strategies. (Author/DB)

A national survey of 1,216 school executives reveals administrators' perceptions of violence in their own school districts, neighboring communities, and the nation at large. Generally, administrators perceived a widespread increase of school violence (especially outside their own districts, in the southeast, and among low-achieving students).…

Describes the Austin (Texas) Independent School District's evaluation of its Summer Opportunity to Accelerate Reading (SOAR) pilot program, designed to help low-achieving students in grades 1 through 3 to improve reading skills. Participating students improved skills, teachers and other staff supported the program, and 45 participating teachers…

Focuses on top-down administered accountability systems designed to drive the system toward higher student achievement. Warns that school-based accountability systems should be used with caution: using individual schools as the primary unit of accountability can create negative incentives for teachers and principals to avoid schools with…