English researchers compared the academic and social benefits of single sex and coeducational schools, examining test scores and interviewing 100 college students (balanced for sex and type of school) about their experiences and their ease of adjustment to higher education. Results indicated that segregating the sexes did not increase…

Explores the European Commission's discourse of gendered equality regarding economic growth and social exclusion, considering its effect on education and training policy. The paper reviews recent commission-policy documents that include discourses of economic growth and peace; explores the relationship between discourses of economic growth, peace,…

Examines first-, third-, and fifth-grade children's ability to hear two simultaneous melodies. Finds that older children identify two melodies faster and more accurately than do younger children, and that register and timbre combinations affect which melody is identified first. Notes implications for elementary music education. (DSK)

Examines teacher perceptions about factors affecting the successful teaching of the National Standards for Music Education. Reports results of a survey of music specialists and fourth-grade classroom teachers throughout Florida. Indicates that specialists are more amenable to the implementation of all nine standards than are general educators.…

Employs a survey of institutions accredited through the National Association of Schools of Music to determine the purpose, format, and content of courses available to undergraduate elementary education majors. Finds greater agreement among instructors of fundamentals courses than among instructors of methods or combined courses. (DSK)

Investigates effects of variations in tone quality on listeners' perception of both tone quality and intonation. Indicates that more inexperienced instrumentalists rated stimuli that were "brighter" in quality as sharper in intonation, and those that were "darker" as flatter. Also, finds differences for brass versus woodwind instruments. (DSK)

Presents the life and work of Calvin Brainerd Cady, an influential U.S. music educator who developed a theory of music education that emphasized the unification of children's thoughts and feelings. Discusses Cady's educational practices in depth and how his work remains relevant to current music-education practices. (DSK)

Attempts to design a valid and reliable instrument to measure the difficulty of solo vocal repertoire. Presents the Ralston Repertoire Difficulty Index (RRDI), and determines the RRDI's ability to be used by voice teachers of all experience levels and to discriminate songs' difficulty into levels. (DSK)

Presents the third replication of a causal-comparative study of expert and novice instrumental music teachers seeking to determine characteristics that may define successful, outstanding band directors. Reports findings about both novice and expert instructors' behavior, and relates them to those of the previous two studies. (DSK)

Articulates methodology for studying mathematics-teacher development in the context of reform. Provides an approach to understanding teachers' current practices and viewing their current practices in the context of development towards envisioned reforms. Applies conceptual frameworks developed within the mathematics-education research community to…

Examines the scope and nature of upper elementary school pupils' difficulties with modeling and solving nonroutine additive word problems. Concludes that many errors result from the superficial, stereotyped approach of adding or subtracting two given numbers without considering the appropriateness of that action in relation to the problem context.…

Addresses the questions of how documented opportunities to learn can be aligned with NCTM Standards, and how elementary teachers' efforts to provide such opportunities can be supported. Conducts a study of the effects of curriculum (problem solving versus skills) and professional development (subject-matter focused versus collegial support) on…

Studies four preservice elementary teachers during a field-based mathematics methods course to investigate elements of mathematics teaching and learning that teachers found problematic and how they resolved those problems. Concluded that teachers exhibited concerns about classroom context, pedagogy of mathematics, children's mathematical thinking,…

Discusses the Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitude Scales (MAS) which have been extensively used in research on gender differences in mathematics learning outcomes. Indicates that several items in the Mathematics as a Male Domain scale of MAS may no longer be valid. Recommends consideration of revisions to the scale to ensure that it continues to…

Examines the structures of two teachers' beliefs about what makes mathematics intrinsically motivating and provides representations of their beliefs. Results indicate that the teachers became more attuned to the conceptual complexity and challenge of mathematics activities and placed less emphasis on task ease over their year of involvement in the…