Age-related differences in adolescent orientation to the future were studied for 124 Israeli female junior and senior high school students and college seniors. Results show greater support for a hypothesis predicting differences derived from H. Heckhausen's least necessary expenditure principle than for a social control and continuity principle.…

High school students' preferences for teacher versus computer feedback on written compositions were studied. Three compositions composed at the terminal were evaluated by the teacher, a computer grammar checker, and the student's choice of teacher or computer. Questionnaires indicated that students strongly favored teacher evaluation because of…

Investigated psychometric properties and correlates of Students' Life Satisfaction Scale with adolescent sample (n=222). Individual differences in global life satisfaction were not associated with age, grade, or gender but were associated moderately with socioeconomic status. Measures of family-related self-concept were greater predictors of life…

Investigates how a secondary-school teacher uses her "turning-point literacy experience" as a narrative template to guide changes in her teaching of literature. Scaffolds students' narrative modes of thinking in two contrasting classroom contexts: a twelfth-grade class for "at-risk" students and an eleventh-grade class for…

Examines the effects of academic achievement in the 8th grade on the sense of personal control and self esteem in the 10th grade and the effects of personal control and self esteem in the 10th grade on academic achievement in the 12th grade. Presents and discusses the results. Includes references. (CMK)

In this article we describe a mathematical microworld for investigating car motion on a racing course and its use with a group of grade 12 students. The microworld is concerned with the mathematical construction of courses and functions which describe car motion. It is implemented in the computer algebra system, Maple[R], which provides the means…

This paper presents a secondary analysis of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) dataset. The study explores differences in the NAEP fourth, eighth, and twelfth grade reading scores by students' gender across the years 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2003. The study used the NAEP National Public School data. The statistically…

Inquiry can be implemented in various ways, ranging from simple classroom discussions to longterm research projects. In this article, the authors developed a project in which high school students were introduced to the nature and process of scientific discovery through a two-week guided inquiry unit on "limnology"--the study of fresh water, which…

In this paper we present findings from two studies focusing on computer algebra system (CAS) calculators. In Victoria, Australia, it is currently mandatory for students to use graphics calculators in some grade 12 mathematics examinations. Since 2001, a pilot study has been conducted involving Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) students…

National attention has been focused on the fact that math and science scores for students in the United States are among the lowest in the world. In DeSchryver's (1998) article, "Fifteen Years and Still a Nation at Risk," it was noted that American twelfth graders ranked nineteenth out of 21 industrialized nations in mathematics…

This investigation of English immersion learners explored processes of learning English, patterns of language use, and levels of comprehensibility among 34 predominantly Spanish-speaking 12th graders at the American School of Asuncion in Asuncion, Paraguay. The analysis of data from language learning histories, group interviews, perceived…

A critical issue facing U.S. schools and one with broad social implication is the persistent disparity in educational achievement between racial/ethnic groups. The achievement gap may be particularly pronounced for Mexican-Americans who constitute the vast majority of U.S. Latinos and are among the most educationally at risk of all Latino…

The search for an understandable reporting format has led the National Assessment Governing Board to explore the possibility of measuring and interpreting student performance on the 12th-grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the Nation's Report Card, in terms of readiness for college, the workplace, and the military. This…

Students for Safer Sexuality is a peer education program designed to train 11th and 12th graders to be key agents in the delivery of sexuality education, HIV prevention, and communication skills programs. There were 15 students involved in the first year and 20 students currently involved. Participants are trained to lead discussion groups,…

This study focused on gender differences in scores on the American College Testing Program (ACT) assessment in mathematics for a large sample of U.S. high school graduates (over 1,700,000) and a sample of 321 Chinese twelfth graders. A smaller gender difference was found for the Chinese sample than for the U.S. sample. However, a similar pattern…