Excessive workloads, crammed schedules, and "perfectionism" are causing today's teens undue stress. Cathy Vatterott, an international expert on K-12 homework, describes this as an epidemic of "rudderless box checkers--four AP classes, check; debate team, check; two sports, check; honor roll, check." What can educators do then…

Research shows that summer slide--the loss of learning over the summer break--is a huge contributor to the achievement gap between low-income students and their higher-income peers. In fact, some researchers have concluded that two-thirds of the 9th-grade reading achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT A meta-analysis of 80 third-party evaluations (all that were conducted) of Experience-Based Career Education programs shows that in the large majority of programs: (1) EBCE students made large gains not only in career skills and life attitudes but also in academic skills; (2) EBCE students gained…

Students participating in tutorial programs--both as tutors and tutees--show greater cognitive and attitudinal gains than do students who are not involved in such programs. However the common belief that tutorial programs greatly enhance participants' self-esteem appears to be groundless. (Author/JM)

Skillfully interviewing students can elicit useful information about the quality of the educational program. (JM)

A meta-analysis of 51 studies of computer-based instruction shows: a rise in student test scores; student attitudes toward the subject that are slightly more favorable; student attitudes toward computers that are strikingly more positive; and savings from 39 percent to 88 percent in student learning time. (MLF)

Article gives comments by students and the interaction that took place during an exchange trip between two groups of youngsters whose environment, way of life, and even language were different. (GB)

At one Illinois elementary school, student portfolios have been a powerful vehicle for understanding what students know and understand about standards. Before developing a portfolio, educators should listen to children as they evaluate others' accomplishments and encourage conversations and reflections that affirm students' sense of competence.…

Provides what the author calls a "meta-analysis" of experience-based career education programs. (Author/JM)

In October 1992 issue of "Educational Leadership," Marian Matthews communicates several misunderstandings about cooperative learning. Interview data from 15 middle schoolers in a wealthy district are not generalizable to all cooperative-learning situations. A cooperative-learning group is neither a seating arrangement nor individualistic learning…

A key to closing the achievement gap between students who come to school speaking a language other than English and native English speakers is adoption of two-way bilingual immersion (TWBI) programs. The bilingual immersion approach fosters excellent academic achievement and positive school attitudes in students of any ethnicity who participate.…

In 1986, the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow project investigated how students' and teachers' routine use of technology would affect teaching and learning. After two years, researchers concluded that teachers were not technologically illiterate, children did not become social isolates, children's engagement with technology increased with routine use,…

Based on individual educational and instructional programing and goal-setting strategies, the Wisconsin Program for the Renewal and Improvement of Secondary Education has improved student achievement, attitudes, and attendance in Wisconsin high schools. The program has worked largely because of its adaptability to each individual school's needs.…

The key to violence prevention lies in shaping children's beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors before violence becomes an automatic manifestation of their anger. The Johnson Institute's Respect and Protect program promotes respect for everyone and a systemwide ethos (violence as unacceptable), targets enabling behaviors, distinguishes between…