Factors affecting program participants' failure to learn as expected include (1) carelessness in details; (2) confusion over program goals; (3) lack of commitment from management, participants, or trainers; (4) lack of clarity and courage; (5) lack of cultural sensitivity; and (6) disagreement between educators and learners about what is to be…

Garber and D. Hodge argue that preschool education should not be asked to inoculate children against school failure. It is enough that it supports the experience of learning. H. H. Spitz responds that Locurto has not gone far enough in his criticism, whereas C. Locurto defends his position. (SLD)

Describes how an intelligent and articulate eighth grade student, who could neither read nor write, was able to participate in Directed Individualized Reading (DIR) with the help of books on audiocassettes. (PRA)

Examines research on comparative differences in reading disabilities to determine whether findings corroborate the belief that learning to read in Japanese produces fewer reading disabilities resulting from its writing system. Suggests that there is no perfect orthography and that a small percentage of children will have difficulty in learning to…

Many language teachers experience frustrations about their lack of success in developing fluency in their students. Reasons for the difficulties are discussed, and the avoidance of short-cuts is advocated. (LB)

Data describing college students' study orientations in relation to their evaluations of courses and preferences for different kinds of learning environment are reexamined in light of recent suggestions that failing students perceive their learning context atypically. Implications of this disintegration of coherent perception patterns are examined…

Examined the beliefs of children 7 to 12 years of age about the effectiveness of effort, attributes, powerful others, luck, and unknown factors in producing outcomes in school performance and friendship. (RH)

Principals can help at-risk students in the middle school by identifying them early; scheduling them with counselors and teachers who can meet their needs; keeping in close contact with teachers about student grades; and offering opportunities for academic success. Finally, the entire staff must support the philosophy that failure is not an…

Examines the psychometric properties of the Early Screening Inventory (ESI), a developmental screening instrument designed to identify four- to six-year-olds at high risk for school failure. The ESI was found to be highly reliable and predictive, and it may be possible to increase its accuracy by combining it with the related Parent Questionnaire.…

Rates of retention over a five-year period were analyzed by grade, school, and the socioeconomic status of each of 32 elementary schools in a Midwestern district. Analysis of variance revealed that schools of middle socioeconomic status retained students at a significantly higher rate than did schools of low or high socioeconomic status. (SLD)

Identifies issues relevant to nontransfer college seniors who disenroll before graduating. Analysis suggests that nonretention of seniors was best predicted by dissatisfaction with academic guidance, access to school-related information, and quality of education, as well as by feelings of institutional alienation. Discusses implications for future…

Discusses academic failure from the perspective of student denial and educator enabling and codependence. Denial is described as an interpersonal process requiring the participation of others. Educators are urged to consider how these components of the process interact in perpetuating school failure. (MMU)

Explores causal attributions of success and failure as functions of religious orientations among a sample of Polish university students. Participants assessed secular and religious attributions on three dimensions: controllability, stability, and locus. Finds that religious and non-religious participants attributed both success and failure to…

Describes simple conceptual framework for academic intervention that extends functional-analysis procedures to basic academic skills. Organizes research into five hypotheses that can guide interventions. Presents treatment for six academic interventions and procedures for testing effectiveness. Discussion of procedures includes design issues,…

Describes the author's experiences as the parent of a son who struggled from preschool until high school graduation. Describes the lack of power and respect that parents of struggling learners feel and the damage to the student of being labeled a slow learner. Notes most teachers did not see his strengths, abilities, and interests, but only…