Ethnographic data were used to address the challenge of parent-professional interaction in the cross-cultural context of 12 Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican American families from low income backgrounds with learning-disabled or mildly mentally retarded children in special education. Illustrations from parent conferences show how parent participation…

Family interaction and home socialization concerning education issues were described for six Mexican-American families in California with six children in grade two. The strengths of the families have important relevance for education, regardless of the different ways the parents exercised their roles, particularly with regard to homework. (SLD)

Two Hispanic-American first grade girls were studied for one year by naturalistic and qualitative methods. The child for whom the teacher had low expectations did very well at reading, whereas the child of whom more was expected did less well. Why this occurred is discussed. (SLD)

Effects of a restructured Chapter 1 program (RCP) on 45 first graders' literacy were examined. RCP students could read a primer fluently and performed better than comparison groups (students in the regular Chapter 1 program and classroom peers). Improvement was particularly apparent for those with the lowest initial readiness scores. (SLD)

To clarify what it means to teach mathematics for understanding and to learn mathematics with understanding, an interactional analysis of video recordings of two lessons in elementary school classrooms is presented. The two classrooms illustrate two distinct classroom traditions, in which mathematics was learned with and without understanding,…

The effects on children's school achievement of countercultural nonconventional family organization and parental values were studied in a 12-year longitudinal study of 146 nonconventional families and 43 2-parent conventional families. Strong commitment to meaningful values about the family lifestyle can protect children from risks that can…

Ideas young students have about their government and the effects of instruction and development on the formation of these ideas were studied for 26 students interviewed 4 times (before and after U.S. history instruction in grades 5 and 8). Why students' conceptions showed more consistency than growth is discussed. (SLD)

The causal role of students' self-efficacy beliefs and academic goals in self-motivated academic attainment was studied for 102 ninth and tenth graders (50 males and 52 females) using path analysis procedures. Perceived efficacy to achieve motivates academic attainment both directly and indirectly by influencing personal goal setting. (SLD)

Explores the relationship of educational research to political action. Describes three areas of research in education, empirical, reflective, and creative, carried out by those who seek to understand and those who seek to change. Suggests that beyond the personal and the formal dissemination level, more attention is needed at the informal…

Focuses on the long-term effects of the Danish school system on students. Summarizes a research project of comparison interviews with former students of experimental and ordinary schools. Reports that students from experimental schools evaluate their schools more positively but rate their preparation for further education as less adequate than…

Reports on the structure and methodology of a British project investigating the impact and implications of competence-led curricula in further education. Outlines the alternative dissemination strategies, research methodology, and management approach used. Concludes that the teacher as researcher approach needs to be applied more explicitly in the…

Presents results from an Australian study examining whether children who use cognitive strategies in solving simple addition questions develop greater proficiency in addition than children who do not use such strategies. Describes the subjects, instruments, procedure, and instructional treatment. Concludes that the development of cognitive…

Discusses how an understanding of how children learn can be used to teach them to read nonnarrative information books. Includes how to nurture reading of nonnarrative writing and text features that link with children's ability to learn. Concludes that spoken language reinforces student efforts to make sense of ideas being read. (DK)

Presents the results of a United Kingdom study comparing computer anxiety, mathematics anxiety, and computer experience among college students and elementary students. Includes discussion of age, sex, and the relationship between anxiety and experience. Reports that the younger children had higher computer experience and less computer anxiety.…

Examines children's ability to formulate testable hypotheses, both from a theoretical viewpoint and from results of a British study of responses to an assessment instrument. Addresses implications for science education and difficulties in judging whether a child has demonstrated the skill. Concludes that evidence presented by teachers about…