Rather than assessing its causal effect on educational attainment, the authors of this article aim to use the concept of cultural capital to define a huge, complex and interconnected collection of educational and school strategies adopted by students and families and to examine the way that these strategies are related to school inequalities. Data…

The big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) was evaluated with 4,461 seventh to ninth graders in Singapore where a national policy of ability streaming is implemented. Consistent with the BFLPE, when prior achievement was controlled, students in the high-ability stream had lower English and mathematics self-concepts (ESCs and MSCs) and those in the…

Crosstabular analysis tends to show that the streaming system is inversely related to absenteeism and dropping-out, even when intelligence, age, academic performance, and type of school are considered separately. A path analytic model conforms to the crosstabular analysis. The streaming system remains associated with both absenteeism and…

Evidence suggests that single-sex groups for science, whether in mixed schools or in single-sex schools, do not improve the attainment of girls in first-year science. Boys are shown to perform equally well upon knowledge-based tests; but upon mechanical reasoning and evaluation of data tests, boys perform significantly better than girls. (Author)

Considers the problems involved with the comparison of science performance of pupils attending single-sex and mixed schools, in which the former achieve higher test scores. Concludes that it is not sensible to attribute differences directly to separation of pupils in schools by sex. Suggests that factors such as preselection of students by ability…

A review of the literature and research on the academic and social self-concepts of gifted adolescents reveals the importance of considering the unique talents of the individual rather than considering gifted students as a homogeneous group. Implications of the research for encouraging positive self-concepts in these students are drawn. (Author/DB)

Working on the premise that the homogeneous grouping of students based on student performance, testing, and recommendations can enable students to develop to their fullest potential, this English curriculum guide for grades seven through twelve is arranged to cover high and/or average achieving students and low achieving students. The guide is…

As a basis for taking a position on the future school structure in grades 8-10 in Denmark, an extensive study was carried out on mixed ability teaching (teaching in heterogeneous classes) on these grade levels. Results showed that mixed ability teaching gave at least as good results as teaching in differentiated classes. (Author/LMO)

A study observed 32 eighth-grade students, divided according to their educational program placements, working on various tasks in either homogeneous or heterogeneous ability groups. Homogeneously congregated, gifted children exchanged constructive types of knowledge and prosocial feedback significantly more often than other homogeneous groups or…

Provides a brief overview of the research on cooperative learning, and describes several classroom grouping techniques useful for all grade levels and subject areas. Discusses group retellings, associational dialogue, dyadic learning, needs grouping, the buddy system, cybernetic sessions, and research, interest, ability, tutorial, random social,…

Reports on a debate on the relative merits of grouping language students according to abilities. (AM)

Nine predictor measures available from student files were used in classifying seventh- and eighth-grade students in mathematics classes into one of three or four levels of instruction in the following year. These measures were scores on tests of language intelligence, nonlanguage intelligence, general intelligence, reading vocabulary, reading…

This paper traces the origins of educational tracking, streaming, or grouping to the period between the report of the Committee of Ten in 1894 and the publication of the Cardinal Principles of Education in 1918. The analysis of grouping, in its origin and in its consequences for students, concludes that its effect on the subject of English has…

This study used the Harter Self Perception Profile for Adolescents and an interview technique to study the self- concept of 25 gifted adolescents during the transition year in a congregated (grouped) classroom for high ability students in secondary school. Test results indicated improved self- concepts, and interviews indicated the students…

This study analyzes the impact of school structure on the friendship networks of students in desegregated schools in Israel. It highlights the importance of school features, such as the homeclass, to the formation of relationships among seventh through ninth grade students. A review of research literature on this topic is presented in the areas of…