Describes a difficult sixth grade girl who spent her elementary school years fighting to feel happy. The article focuses on a teacher's efforts to raise the child's self-esteem by examining her home life then taking appropriate steps to encourage success (e.g., tutoring younger students). (SM)

Third graders (94 girls and 100 boys) and junior high school students (143 girls and 136 boys) completed questionnaires about mathematics achievement-related beliefs. Girls rated their own abilities more negatively, had lower expectations, and were more likely to attribute failure to low ability compared to boys. (SLD)

A new adaptive procedure for assessing multiple dimensions of self-concept for children younger than 8 years was studied with a sample of 501 children from kindergarten through grade 2. Use of the Self-Description Questionnaire with young children was supported by factor analysis. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed. (SLD)

The dearth of positive role models for young black males may be overcome by creating all-male kindergarten through third grade classes taught by male teachers, preferably black. Using black male volunteers in elementary classrooms, as has a District of Columbia school, is another way to provide positive role models. (SLD)

A longitudinal early schooling process model was developed for first-year and second-year reading achievement, mathematics achievement, and socioemotional maturity with 1,539 low-income minority children. Data were collected from children and teachers over four time periods. Results indicate that family- and school-related cognitive readiness had…

Academic achievement was negatively correlated with television viewing. This correlation was independent of the child's verbal ability. Partial correlations showed maternal ratings of stress related to life events and father's marital satisfaction were associated with television viewing. (Author/BB)

This study compared fitness outcomes of regular physical education (PE) programs to special PE programs that implemented a curricular module. Fifth and seventh graders who were exposed to the fitness module did not make significantly greater gains in selected fitness scores than students who participated in regular PE programs. (SM)

Uses the Triple Quandary framework as a model for describing the cultural orientations of 50 inner-city African-American sixth graders. Three cultural orientations (Anglocultural, marginalized minority, and Afrocultural) and Afrocultural expressions of spirituality, communalism, and affect were operationalized. The apparent negative impact of an…

Effects of the involvement, classroom structure, and autonomy support of 14 teachers on the behavioral and emotional engagement of 144 third through fifth graders were studied across a school year. Results suggest that behaviorally disengaged students receive teacher responses that should further undermine motivation. (SLD)

Evaluated first phase of three-phase research project, Project KICK (Kids in Cooperation with Kids) by examining interaction between parent education, positive peer role modeling, and drug education for third graders. Hypothesized that intervention would lead to increase in self-esteem, improved attitudes, increased knowledge regarding drugs, and…

Examines relationships among socioeconomic advantage, achievement motivation, and academic performance in an urban elementary school population of 130 African-American and Hispanic fourth- through sixth-grade students. Results indicate that socioeconomic advantage and achievement motivation are significant mediators of academic performance among…

Types of questions asked in first-grade mathematics classes in Japan, Taiwan, and the United States were investigated. Observations of 311 lessons by 16 Japanese, 20 Taiwanese, and 33 U.S. teachers suggest that the kinds of questions asked in Taiwan and Japan contribute to more sophisticated mathematical knowledge. (SLD)

Describes the second-language and native language maintenance programs of Brunswick North Primary School (Australia), a school that offers its students opportunities to learn Turkish, Italian, Greek, or Arabic. An integrated curriculum ensures that students acquire or maintain a language other than English. (SLD)

Describes a strategy to raise standards in a British inner-city school through parent involvement in learning and decision making and the recognition of religious and cultural diversity. Communication, particularly with language minority parents, is vital to the program's success. (SLD)

An ethnographic case study of Somali children in Canadian schools examines the relationship between literacies, school, and community cultures by exploring literacy events as they unfold for Somali children in an elementary school. Field notes and interviews involving Somali and school-community members are analyzed based on the view that…