Study examined whether literature discussion groups would offer students worthwhile opportunities, noting how discussion could be evaluated using teacher and student documentation. Eighteen high-risk students were audiotaped discussing stories. Audiotaping proved highly successful. Children were able to take responsibility in the evaluation…

An approach to test modeling is illustrated that encompasses both response consistency and response difficulty. This generative approach makes validation an ongoing process. An analysis of hidden figure items with 60 high school students supports the feasibility of the method. (SLD)

This article presents the authors' comments concerning their paper (EC 602 059) that examined teachers' thought processes during instruction of at-risk students. The article comments on the authors' reasons for doing the study, their response to critics, and changes they would make if conducting the study again. (JDD)

Second and fifth graders from five sociometric status groups were interviewed for their attributional, emotional, and behavioral responses to hypothetical social encounters with same-sex and same-grade peers with the same sociometric status. Results demonstrate that children's manner of processing social information is a complex phenomenon based…

Provides a rationale for organizing history instruction around children's trade books. Presents a sample unit on the American Revolution that has been used successfully with intermediate-grade students. Describes an approach that is unique in its dual focus on students' affective responses to literature and their learning of content. (MG)

The consistency of several item bias detection methods was studied across different test administrations of the same items using data from a mathematics test given to approximately 6,600 eighth grade students in all. The Mantel Haenszel and item-response-theory-based sum-of-squares methods were the most consistent. (SLD)

A mathematical model is proposed to describe how group differences in distributions of abilities, which are distinct from the target ability, influence the probability of a correct item response. In the multidimensional approach, differential item functioning is considered a function of the educational histories of the examinees. (SLD)

A pilot study assessing parent satisfaction with mental health services for children was a disappointment in its low response rate (28%, 15 of 53 questionnaires). However, the questionnaire, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, was an easy to use and effective tool that identified some sources of dissatisfaction. (SLD)

The effect of multiple-choice (MC) or open-ended (OE) response format on diagnostic assessment of algebra test performance was investigated with 231 eighth and ninth graders in Tel Aviv (Israel) using bug or rule space analysis. Both analyses indicated closer similarity between parallel OE subsets than between stem-equivalent OE and MC subsets.…

Chinese crime fiction is discussed in the context of political and social change. Chinese fiction bears little resemblance to the model police officer of Communist ideology. Crime fiction has become the main vehicle in China for forming public images of police and may become a channel for social discourse. (SLD)

This study contrasted communicative skills of 20 community-based adults with mental retardation with those of 20 institutionalized adults. The institutionalized group was more assertive and less responsive than the community-based group. The institutionalized group also devoted more utterances to inappropriate topics and provided fewer repairs…

A father shares his experience raising a daughter born with severe brain damage. The article explores the parents' emotions in learning the scope of their daughter's condition, coping with support machinery, getting to know parents of other children with disabilities, dealing with health professionals, and securing financial support. (PB)

This study found that a procedure involving choral responding and self-assessment accompanied by contingent praise may be an effective tool for teaching in-class transition skills to preschoolers with developmental delays. Active engagement sharply increased, with collateral decreases in competing behavior and levels of teacher prompting of target…

High school students with learning disabilities (LD), low achievement, or average achievement responded, several times daily, to questions concerning levels of affect, activation, cognitive efficiency, self-esteem, motivation, and feedback from others. LD students reported feeling more positive and active than the other groups during school hours;…

Maintains that using contemporary novels allows students to critically apply what they have learned about the sociology of family issues, and at the same time to broaden their understanding of them. Outlines the use of literature to illustrate sociological theories, explains the course requirements, and addresses student and instructor responses.…