Fiction is a powerful tool that can motivate students to learn. This book is designed to assist elementary teachers in planning integrated units of study based on quality fiction titles about U.S. history. These titles build interest, illuminate specific eras, and lead students to related nonfiction titles. Organized in sections that cover…

This paper outlines the background of an early years training program being implemented in inner city and rural settings in the United Kingdom. The paper is based on 5 years of observations, interviews, meetings, and training initiatives with educators and parents. In their comments, educators and parents often attributed their lack of…

Two studies examined factors influencing the study approach of Australian college freshmen and seniors from a traditional psychometric perspective, supported by student comments. The first found that student interest, grades, and essay examinations encourage serious study; the second, that serious students see courses as encouraging independence…

A longitudinal study of first graders found that children had a more internal locus of control, were more optimistic, and scored higher on an effectance motivation measure at the end of first grade than at the beginning but attitudes and self-esteem did not change. Some changes were effected by SES and academic success. (AtuhorRD)

Studies in self-management, attribution, and achievement motivation challenge the view that basic skills instruction requires strong teacher control, structure, convergence on learning activities, less pupil freedom, and less experimental teaching activities. Student-managed instruction yielded the greatest achievement gains and heightened…

Subjects who were preparing to teach scored reliably higher than controls on a subsequent retention test. In experiment 2, for both a verbal and a problem-solving task, subjects either worked alone, verbalized their thoughts or taught another person the task while performing. There were no reliable differences. (Author/CP)

Cross-age tutors and tutees (n=122 children) felt that tutorial learning was most dependent on effort rather than ability factors and attributed positive learning consequences to their tutoring partner, but negative learning consequences to themselves. (Author/RL)

This article argues that challenges in motivating gifted underachievers should be addressed from an integrated systems approach. The design and implementation of specific interventions for these students are described, with a special focus on reward menus and behavior contracts. Suggested target behaviors and individual and class rewards are…

Discusses the basic concepts of andragogy, or the teaching of adults. Topics include differences between children and adults; characteristics of adult learners, including time perspective, motivation, being self-directed, and experienced in life skills; and effective program design for adults. (LRW)

This study compared the effects of intrinsic relevance with embedded, extrinsic relevance-enhancing strategies based on the ARCS (attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction) model of instruction on perceived motivation and the learning outcomes of identification, terminology, comprehension, and drawing. Both intrinsic and extrinsic…

Variable-centered (regression) and person-centered (cluster analytic) techniques were used to examine the relations between eighth-grade students' achievement motivation and their perceptions of teacher caring. Motivation was assessed using students' self-reports of academic self-efficacy, intrinsic valuing of education, and teacher ratings of…

Discusses the learning paradigm and its implications for the community college mission. Argues that the learning paradigm is not a fad but part of a natural progression of learning strategies and programs that have been developed over the past few decades. (Contains 11 references.) (NB)

Examines concepts of learning, motivational orientations, and use of range of learning strategies focusing on high schools students (n=222) in Australia and in Malaysia (n=168). Indicates that Malaysian students obtained higher scores for more motivation strategies than Australian students. Includes references. (CMK)

Accelerated Schools are built on the strengths of school staff, students, parents, and communities with the goal of bringing at-risk students into the educational mainstream by the end of elementary school. During the 1990-91 school year, 53 schools are participating in the Accelerated Schools Program, including statewide networks in Missouri and…

Discusses the following barriers to adult learning: (1) motivation is dependent on usefulness of material; (2) ideas and values are fully formed and resistent to challenge; (3) students develop a negative self-image; and (4) students experience reentry shock and infantilization. Discusses an orientation course involving critical thinking designed…