Analyzed two sixth-grade teachers' efforts to improve their instruction. Subjects were 129 students. Theories of multiple intelligences were practiced in two essential ways, specifically, by encouraging students to understand the way they learn, and by generating a variety of instructional activities. Results showed that there were gains in…

Examined the relationship between achievement and learning styles of middle school students. Subjects were chosen from one urban middle school and were asked to complete the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and Dunn & Dunn Learning Style Inventory. Found that traditional classroom settings may not provide sufficient environmental options to enable…

Examined the nature and extent of structural change and how successfully various constituency groups were handling the change in three schools. Findings indicated that positive change was occurring along with anticipated dimensions of quality schooling indicators, while curriculum and instructional reform lagged behind. Claims that these schools…

Claims that Major Disciplinary Violations (MDVs) are incurred when students are truant, involved in fighting, insubordinate to faculty, or in possession of drugs. Presents data on students who received MDVs in a junior high school. Interviewed 17 students who had violated school discipline to gain insight into their behavior and needs. Recommends…

Discusses the importance of trust in leadership and organization in the middle level. Analyzes and measures school climate from the perspectives of organizational health on the teaching, administrative, and institutional levels. Subjects were 86 middle schools with data collected at regular meetings. Results indicated that trust and health…

Examines the nature of adolescents' sports involvement as reflected in reasons for participation and withdrawal. Claims that the degree of fun, the motivation to attain competence, and the capacity to distinguish ability from effort are important. Concludes that if the goal of sports is to foster a healthy lifestyle, the issue of maximizing…

Presents a conceptual framework for analyzing students' mathematical understanding, reasoning, problem solving, and communication. Analyses of student responses indicated that the tasks appear to measure the complex thinking and reasoning processes that they were designed to assess. Concludes that the QUASAR assessment tasks can capture changes in…

Explains that students in intermediate grades often find the academic demands more difficult and complex. Four factors are identified: ability, quality and quantity of instruction, and motivation. Examines the direct and indirect effects of variables shown to influence academic achievement. Claims that motivation and homework are especially…

Surveys of minority and nonminority teacher candidates examined their unique entry perspectives and educational experiences to determine why minorities do or do not choose to enter the teaching profession. Results found notable differences in minority and nonminority students' profiles and prior educational experiences, with minority students…

Middle school teachers (n=123) in 2 southeastern states completed surveys examining the relationship of their abstract-concrete thinking levels to their multiethnic beliefs. Teachers' beliefs about multiethnic issues varied according to their individual thinking styles, with concrete thinkers holding beliefs that were less likely to nurture…

Describes the underlying philosophical and cultural changes associated with classroom organizational changes in one eighth-grade teacher's attempts to implement National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards. Observations and interviews indicated that there were two distinct cultures ("book world" and organic or "stretch") each with its own…

Reports a study that analyzed relationships between enrollment in elementary magnet schools and related socioeconomic, racial, and geographic variables in a big city school system. Variables related to parent socioeconomic status and proximity to magnet schools were found to be significant predictors of magnet enrollment. (Author/SM)

A model was developed for recruiting experienced educators, extending the recruitment-as-marketing theory. To assess the model's utility, 168 experienced female teachers posed as job applicants responding to position advertisements. Participant reactions were more favorable when advertisements contained intrinsic job attributes, a personal tone,…

A study of fourth-grade students with and without learning disabilities and their teachers examined students' strategic comprehension behavior and the instruction they received. Results found important differences in the way students perceive their comprehension instruction in the classroom and in the way teachers perceive how they implement…

Describes the developmental process of the Dallas Independent School District Chapter 1 portfolio assessment and compares the portfolio results to the standardized measures available within the district. Concludes that there are two different types of portfolios based on the purpose intended, accountability or instructional improvement. (SM)