This issue of a continuing newsletter on individualizing language instruction provides discussion of how several educators have implemented individualized language programs in their school systems. Editorial comments introduce articles on: 'No-Fail' German Individualized Program at the University of California at Riverside, (2) Self-Paced…

Bibliographic data, physical characteristics, contents, prices, and ordering instructions for Spanish instructional materials listed in this issue of the Materials Acquisition Project are provided for each entry. Subject categories include general works, social science, language arts, pure science, technology, the arts, literature, and history.…

Course offerings in social studies education for grades K-12 are summarized for each state. Information includes grade level, title or description of course offering, semester(s) offered, requiring agency, elective courses (grades 8-12) most frequently offered, and current curriculum projects. A commentary section elaborates on required content,…

This booklet will help educators review, develop, and improve fundamental components of K-12 social studies programs. It is designed as a planning and implementation guide for social studies in Wisconsin. First, ways are suggested in which educators can define the purpose of their social studies programs and decide how to balance skills and…

This discussion of research on media influences on learning describes a study of 611 students, grades three through 10, that examined user preconceptions about learning activities; examined differences in preconceptions across demographic subgroups based on gender and grade level; and interpreted results according to a theoretical learning model.…

The purpose of this research study was to illustrate the ways in which out-of-level testing policies have changed over the three years from 2000-2001 to 2003-2004. In 2000-2001, 12 states were using out-of-level tests to measure student progress toward content standard proficiency. A detailed research study conducted at the end of 2000-2001 to…

This study investigates whether significant differences exist across college undergraduates' grade levels, majors, gender, age levels, and income levels regarding their perceptions of visual aid usage in effective presentations. These differences were measured by subjecting 226 college undergraduates at a medium sized state university to a Visual…

This paper reports on a study to determine whether a change in organizational environment (relocation or shifting grade levels) affected teachers' ability to sustain their adopted philosophical and/or instructional practices. Study participants were drawn from two schools whose faculties were engaged in transition to a whole language curriculum.…

The investigation reported in this paper was prompted by discrepancies between the published outcomes from two international tests of science achievement: (1) the Second International Assessment of Educational Progress (IAEP2), administered in 1991; and (2) the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), administered in 1995. One…

The rapid dwindling of classes in the upper grades of U.S. grammar and high schools has been often noted, and many suggestions as to the improvement of the system of education have been emphasized by reference to this tendency. It is clear that after all that has been done, the attendance of pupils, particularly in the elementary schools, is still…

The teacher is the most important factor in the school; the selection of teachers is the most important and difficult duty of school officers. Public funds and children must be guarded against incompetent teachers. To do this, all the States of the Union have by law provided for the examination of applicants and for some form of license or…

The Common Core of Data (CCD) Nonfiscal surveys consist of data on the status of public elementary and secondary education submitted annually to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) by state education agencies (SEAs) in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,…

Research that bears on the issue of school entry policies is summarized in this report. The focus is on the age children should be to enter kindergarten and the potential benefits of delaying school entry for all or some children. The research reviewed uses three methodologies: (1) comparing outcomes for children who have delayed entry by a year…

The use of grade equivalent scores contrasted against grade placement is widespread in the diagnosis of dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Discusses difficulties and distortions of this method. Presents an alternative method for reliably determining aptitude/achievement discrepancies. (Author)

Two experiments examined the relationship between reasoning skills, student grade, ability, and knowledge levels. Findings were interpreted in terms of a two-component model: a knowledge-experiential component and the conventions of reasoning. Results indicated that consideration of the relation of reasoning to learning and to instruction…