Uses data from three Dutch research projects to elucidate the difficulty of motivating unemployed young people to participate in training programs. Claims participants do not perceive these programs as normal work. Suggests offering participants training for a real profession and upon completion, guaranteeing employment in that profession. (NL)

Presents results from 2 British studies relating preschool reading skills and reading attainment reached by age 11. Substantiates and extends earlier research that correlated early letter identification with reading ability at age seven. Also indicates no support for hypothesis that letter sounding rather than naming predicts subsequent reading…

A national study examined the essay performance of 17-year olds (n=288), relating their written composition and writing motivation scores to 9 previously studied educational and environmental influences on learning (e.g., age, motivation, mass media, peer groups, home). Results indicate that writing performance is much less predictable then…

Experiments investigated the learning effects of two strategies (whole-word and segmented feedback) in beginning readers. Results from both experiments indicate whole-word sound feedback is more helpful than segmented feedback. (SM)

Data from a longitudinal survey of mathematically precocious 13-year olds (n=1,247) were used to test 5 factors (quality and quantity of instruction, home environment, motivation, and ability) for their ability to predict educational achievement and educational and career aspirations. Students were followed until age 23. (SM)

Study examined the ways 117 low-socioeconomic third graders interacted during acquisition of new mathematical skills. The effects of cooperative-mastery-learning (CML) strategies on their mathematics achievement were investigated. Two experiments indicated that students exposed to CML performed better than those given more traditional instruction.…

Describes how elementary teachers identified school climate as a major concern and planned collaboratively for change. Using a change process model, teachers identified school-climate indicators that were used to develop a discrepancy measurement instrument. Using a consensus decision-making process, the teachers produced objectives and…

Study collected 340 Israeli student teachers' views on teaching. Questionnaires indicated significant uncertainty regarding approaches to class management and progressive opinions on curriculum and instruction. Views of prospective elementary teachers at teachers colleges were more progressive than those of secondary teachers at universities. (SM)

Although these are substantial reasons to question Wilshire's notion of a complete moral collapse of America's research universities, he does call attention to ethical problems. Wilshire supports restoring the task of teaching to undergraduates in a new professional ethic for the professoriate. (SLD)

The appropriateness of the metaphor of the teacher as expert is examined through a theoretical and historical critique that examines expertise as a general social phenomenon. The metaphor is questioned because it tends to turn students and the public into passive receivers of expert service. (SLD)

A longitudinal model of mathematics/science major choice at college entrance for Black and White, male and female students was tested using a "High School and Beyond" sample. Significant predictors of choice included sophomore choice of major, mathematics attitudes, mathematics/sciences courses completed by senior year, and various parental…

Sixteen expert, beginning, and novice teachers, who simultaneously viewed three videotapes showing junior high school science work groups, expressed their thoughts and answered questions about classroom management and instruction. Differences among the groups in terms of perceptions, monitoring, and understanding of classroom events illustrate the…

Sixty fifth graders were interviewed to determine their attitudes and conceptions about learning mathematics and social studies. Students characterized positive and negative experiences about mathematics in terms of their ability to do the work, whereas social studies experiences were more likely to be evaluated as boring or interesting. (SLD)

Audiotutorial (tape-recorded) science lessons were provided to 191 first and second graders, and interviews were conducted periodically to assess changes in science concept understanding through grade 12. A comparison group did not receive the early instruction. Data highlight the lasting effects of early instruction in science. (SLD)

The work of J. Eccles and others (1983) in proposing an integrative theoretical model of achievement behaviors was extended using data from the Second International Mathematics Study. Strong support was found for the constructs identified by the model as determinants of the intention to take more mathematics courses. (SLD)