Learning magic tricks permits behaviorally and emotionally handicapped children to become magicians in the eyes of adults, their peers, and themselves. The self-contained classes of handicapped boys in grades 3 through 6 have put on numerous magic shows since 1984. Program objectives include building self-esteem, teaching team cooperation,…

To learn the extent to which a revised elementary science program for grades 3 to 6 had been implemented in the 81 elementary schools of the Jefferson County (Colorado) School District, program developers adopted an assessment system based on the innovation configurations concept. The evolution of this system into an ongoing program for…

The Philosophy for Children Program was introduced to a class of deaf fifth graders as an instructional approach for reasoning skills. The program is intended to develop analytic skills required for intellectual functioning (including concept development, generalization, inference making, question formulation, and analogies). The program's major…

This paper examines the effectiveness of a universal school-based prevention program designed to increase coping resources in preadolescents through the modeling and teaching of optimistic thinking skills in response to real and hypothetical events. Six classroom teachers implemented the program in grades five and six within the regular school…

Outcomes of a school improvement program begun in 1988 at Roosevelt Middle School in Eugene, Oregon, are described in this paper. The first part provides a background of the school's innovative process and program development. The second part outlines the school's major components of restructuring--a common vision and core beliefs, principles of…

The Irving, Texas, Independent School District developed and implemented Project Eureka, a 1 year program, with Elementary Secondary Education Act Title IV, Part C monies, for grade 5 middle school gifted students. Of the 1,750 students tested on the School and College Aptitude Test and the Scientific Research Associates Achievement Test, and…

Fifth and sixth grade students of the University School at the University of Wyoming participated in a successful week's overnight outdoor experience in September 1983. Because results of a pre-camp questionnaire indicated that most students had minimal knowledge of the planning necessary for camping, activities and classes were organized to…

The creation of a new reading program at a New Jersey elementary school can provide administrators with a lesson in trying to make major changes in schools. A reading specialist presented research from the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicating the need for a different approach to reading instruction, as shown by reduced reading…

Middle level schools have special needs because of the characteristics of the age group served. Staff development is crucial for middle schools. Its purposes and major planning components are presented in this paper. Most mid-level educators were prepared for elementary or high school teaching and have a limited knowledge of early adolescent…

Described is the development and evaluation of the Micro-Place Social Studies Curriculum, an instructional system for teaching economics and law concepts at the fifth grade level. The curriculum is based on a miniature market economy that requires students to provide food, clothing, and shelter cards for simulated families. Students own businesses…

The monograph describes the co-teaching program in the L'Anse Creuse (Michigan) public schools, implemented at Middle School South, in which regular and special education teachers are paired to provide academic support to mildly impaired middle-school special education students within the regular education classroom. The program currently includes…

The paper describes a program which replaced the "pull out" approach to providing remedial instruction to learning disabled middle school students with a "pull in" program characterized by participation of special education teachers in regular classes to facilitate learning for these students. The special education teachers help to modify the…

The present study investigated the independent and combined effects of perceived parental support and social problem-solving skills on children's emotional adjustment. Thirty-six fourth- and fifth-grade children completed measures of perceived parental support, social problem-solving skills, self-perceived competence and self-worth, and recent…

"PBS Mathline Middle School Math Project" is a national program offered by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) to local affiliates to increase middle school teachers' understanding of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards, encourage discourse among teachers, and develop classroom applications based on video models of…

Technology education should be part of the general education of all students for the following reasons: (1) technological literacy is important in preparing people for life and work; (2) technological literacy must be based on sensory as well as language-based learning; and (3) technology is unique in the school curriculum. The content of…