Comparison of middle-school-age students with learning disabilities, grouped according to their self-reported ratings of scholastic competence, found significant differences between the low subgroup and the medium/high subgroups on internal locus of control for positive events, school attitudes, and global self-worth. Subgroups did not differ in…

Discusses the concept of capability in relation to life both inside and outside the education system. A group film-making project at Edinburgh University which is designed to increase student autonomy in learning is described; problems of group process evaluation are discussed; and a self and peer process assessment questionnaire is explained. (21…

Describes 12 ways in which early childhood educators can actively display their respect to children. (BB)

Effects of instructional level, teacher's knowledge of children's ability, amount of teacher-initiated activity, and age on language ability were investigated. The subjects were 597 three- to six-and-a-half- year old Head Start children--40 percent White, 38 percent Black, and 20 percent Hispanic. All variables assessed had a direct effect on…

Identified by a study of mathematically precocious youth, 107 academically accelerated gifted students were compared with 107 nonacademically accelerated gifted students. At age 23-25 years, the 2 subject groups exhibited few significant differences, and no evidence of harmful effects of academic acceleration were found. (SLD)

Stimulated recall was used with 28 classroom teachers to examine their thought processes during instruction. Results indicated that at-risk children received more negative comments about attending and ability than did average achievers. Special education students received more positive and negative comments about attending than did average…

This study quantified possible changes in the classroom learning experiences of high- and low-ability pupils, which might accompany an organizational change from streamed to mixed-ability classes for science learning in secondary schools. Deteriorations in the quality of the classroom interactions of both high- and low-ability pupils were found.…

The results of four early intervention studies are analyzed and found to make a strong case for expecting educable-level achievements from children with Down syndrome. The importance of functional indicators of educability that can complement intelligence test results in determining an appropriate educational placement is stressed. (Author/JDD)

Describes a study that investigates the perceived academic self-efficacy of first-generation students at a large Midwest community college. Indicates that first-generation students have lower self-perceptions of their academic ability than students whose parents have some college experience. Contains one data table and 12 references. (JDI)

Examines four key themes from a national study, focusing particularly on beliefs and practices of middle school teachers and principals as they relate to academically diverse learners. Provides insight into how middle level educators think about and address academic diversity in their schools and classrooms, and suggests areas for staff…

This chapter is adapted from the address that inaugurated the American Educational Research Association annual lecture series commemorating the anniversary of the 1954 Supreme Court decision in the case "Brown v. Board of Education." The authors begin this chapter by paying tribute to Kenneth Bancroft Clark, who led the distinguished group of…

This article presents the author's response to Edmund Gordon and Beatrice Bridglall's paper titled "The Affirmative Development of Academic Ability: In Pursuit of Social Justice." Placing her comments in a historical context, the author states that Gordon and Bridglall point out that the "Brown v. Board of Education" case was the result of decades…

This authoritative handbook reviews the breadth of current knowledge about developmental disabilities: neuroscientific and genetic foundations; the impact on health, learning, and behavior; and effective educational and clinical practices. Leading authorities analyze what works in intervening with diverse children and families, from infancy…

Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) is often presented as a promising learning method. However, it is also facing some new challenges. Apart from answering the question of whether or not working with CSCL generates satisfying learning outcomes, it is important to determine whether or not all participants profit from collaboration,…

Beginning in fall 1991, Napa Valley College (NVC), in California, switched from essentially mandatory placement of incoming students to an advisory, self-selection system, where students receive course recommendations based on assessment test results. In order to evaluate the validity of NVC's assessment procedures, a study was conducted of…