This study explored middle school teachers' perspectives on and expectations of adolescence and puberty, using observations and interviews of 15 teachers in two Japanese middle schools and two United States (U.S.) middle schools, as well as a survey of teachers in selected schools in both nations. Teachers in the U.S. described puberty as being…

A project was conducted at Texas Tech University to develop a competency-based curriculum to support statewide implementation of tech prep intergenerational programs (careers in providing services to well elderly persons and to children). Project activities included the following: (1) revision and expansion of the Intergenerational Target…

This guide is to help lawyers and law students work with young students and classroom teachers to integrate lessons on the Bill of Rights into the regular classroom program. Suggestions are given on adapting the lessons for learning disabled, hearing impaired, and gifted students. Lesson plans contain objectives, key concepts and vocabulary, notes…

An action research project implemented a program for improving the reading skills of at-risk middle school students. The targeted population consisted of fifth- and seventh-grade students in a rural, middle class community located in northeastern Illinois. Evidence for the problem includes teacher observation, checklists, standardized tests, and…

The report describes the development and implementation of an English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program for limited-English-proficient employees of the poultry industry. The program, undertaken at James Madison University (Virginia), was funded initially in 1991 by the federal government and has continued with funding from two poultry companies.…

In an ethnographic study, teachers investigated a cultural difference between Anglos and Hispanics involving organization of space and activities at home, and applied the findings to high school classroom organization. The research was undertaken in a small community where a significant proportion of Hispanic students have…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between suspensions and expulsions of African American students, teacher effectiveness, and school safety in New Orleans (Louisiana) public schools. Preliminary evaluations for the 1995-96 school year are presented. The initial phase of data collection focused on focus group interviews…

This directory lists high school, college, and graduate study-at-home opportunities, including extensive information about external degree and certificate programs offered by accredited institutions that participate in the National University Continuing Education Association programs. An introductory section, which explains what independent study…

This issue focuses on learning disabilities of adult literacy students. The 11 papers in the journal were developed from research done by the authors at an intensive summer institute in 1994. After an introduction and a description of the summer institute (Martha Merson), the following papers are included: "Lucie: Is She or Isn't She?" (Meryl…

The first component of this three-part package is a student manual designed to be used independently in secondary health occupations programs or on-the-job training programs for administrative medical assistants. The manual contains six units that cover the following topics: introduction to administrative medical assisting, communication skills,…

The Oregon State System of Higher Education is developing a new approach to admission to any of the state's seven public baccalaureate granting institutions. This approach replaces the grade point average with proficiencies, clearly specified statements of the knowledge and skills students must master. The new system is known as the…

The Science Academy of Austin, part of the Austin Independent School District (Texas), was given a 4-year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant beginning in 1990-91 to link public and private sectors to create a "thinking curriculum." This evaluation report covers the fourth, and last, year of the grant's implementation. The new…

Two studies illustrate the concern that the connection between teachers' beliefs and their instructional practices can be a troublesome one if beliefs are informed by formalist thinking related to truth and caring in the teaching conversation. Subjects, 21 middle school language arts teachers and 216 eighth-grade students were asked what they…

A study investigated alternative methods of assessing student language skills in Arlington County (Virginia) public schools' Spanish/English two-way bilingual partial immersion program, with the objective of improving information for developing more effective teaching. A team of teachers from each participating school worked with researchers to…

This paper addresses the problem that gender imbalance in curriculum and instruction contributes to sexism, stereotyping, and bias in schools. The study was conducted in a reading classroom in a grade 6-8 middle school of 970 students in a suburban area of the northeast United States. The program focused on inservice workshops and integration of…