Disaggregation of standardized test data is essential in determining the differential effects of the school's climate and program upon groups of students formed by social class. In a recent secondary school study comparing the outcomes of two approaches to school assessment (the Connecticut School Effectiveness Survey vs. The National Study of…

This literature review concerns the concept of alternative grade configurations at the elementary level, in which elementary schools are subdivided into primary (K-2) and intermediate (3-5) units. Because of the paucity of literature on this concept, the major part of the report focuses on the reorganization of the elementary schools of the South…

This study compared attitudinal data on students who had dropped college preparatory science (academic terminal) in high school (N=55) with those who continued to enroll (academic continuing) in college preparatory science courses (N=108). Eight attitudes that have been hypothesized to be related to learning cognitive performance and enrollment in…

The purpose of this study was to analyze the verbal interactions of children assigned to multiage classrooms. Specifically, the study investigated whether children of a particular age group interact with other children across age groups and the types of interactions each age group display. It also investigated student-to-teacher interactions and…

An investigation to determine whether reading disabled children exhibit deviant oral language behaviors was undertaken in a study of 103 children in second, fourth, and sixth grades (in two groups, one reading disabled, one control). Four dependent measures (Developmental Sentence Scoring, Mean Length of Utterance, Type Token Ratio, and verbal…

The product of a Title IX Ethnic Heritage Grant, this teaching-resource guide has been designed and evaluated by teams of Native American adults, teachers, and Indian and non-Indian students from three Oklahoma schools selected as project sites: Anadarko Public Schools; Muskogee Public Schools; and Sapula Public Schools. The guide is divided into…

The emerging middle school movement throughout the United States today is in part an effort to rediscover, redefine, revamp, and reintroduce the basic pedagogical principles of adolescent learning upon which the junior high school was established almost seventy years ago. Proponents of the middle school support the rationale that children 10 to 14…

One hundred items reflecting the values of Latin study include such works as Thorndike's "Mental Discipline in High School Studies" and "Why Study Latin?", a 10-minute film. The major portion of the entries is drawn from periodicals and newsletters. Selections represent a time span of 50 years with a concentration of articles from the 1960's. (RL)

As a teacher of English, comparative literature, and foreign languages, the author views the state of the art of foreign language instruction and suggests reforms. Discussion focuses on foreign language requirements, premises on which language study is based, tests and literature, misplaced priorities of college language departments, relevance of…

Commentary on the need to establish priorities in instructional objectives in the teaching of poetry includes a discussion of the implications of teaching for appreciation and for knowledge. Observations on teaching techniques lead to a review of various types of questions judged helpful in developing appreciation. The potential use of…

A brief analysis and definition of general linguistics focuses on distinct areas of study within the science, including descriptive, historical, comparative, and computational linguistics. Other branches of the science discussed are psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and dialectology. Technical concepts encountered in the literature are also…

The junior high school, comprised of grades 7-9, was originally organized to meet the special needs of adolescent students. Current trends in school reorganization favor a middle school comprised of grades 6-8, raising the problem of where to place the ninth grade in the school organization. Assuming that ninth graders should be placed with…

Seven principal reasons for having a language laboratory are illustrated with cartoon figures in this article. This simplified discussion comments on pertinent historical developments in language instruction, optimal teaching and learning techniques, and the nature of language. (RL)

This guide is intended for teachers of modern languages planning to individualize their instruction. Materials include suggestions for classroom management, and the role of the teacher and the responsibility of the student for the success of his learning program are defined. A format for creating learning activity packets will assist the teacher…

A case for inservice training programs for language teachers in public schools is developed in this paper. Key reasons showing the need for such programs focus on: the new teacher involved in team teaching, independent study programs, and individualized instruction; social and educational change; program articulation and coordination; and teacher…