Presents an impressionistic commentary about the discourse of sociologists on students based on a random sample of sociologists' statements written between 1972 and 1988. Categorizes the commentary into: the incomplete, the defective, the empowered, and the unmotivated. Suggests that even though the discourse concerns students, it is really about…

Discusses the importance of teachers' job satisfaction in light of a teacher shortage. Recommends ways in which principals, school districts, education schools, and teachers can collaborate to provide opportunities for teacher satisfaction. (RJC)

Discusses 12 basic, instructionally relevant learning principles concerned with students' differing needs and capacities, motivated and rewarded learning behaviors, teacher expectations, student learning preferences, and the value of challenging learning opportunities. One way to increase the amount of available teaching time is to teach by…

Examined factors that influence children's competence in mathematics when they begin first grade. Results indicated that parent education, family economic resources, and parent expectations influenced children's competence. Race and family structure, when considered apart from other variables, were not significant influences. (PCB)

This article presents a concept of reflection, explains its importance in staff development, and describes ways reflection can be effectively integrated into staff development programs. Programs discussed include Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement (TESA), as well as tailor-made peer coaching and discipline workshops. (IAH)

Examines traditional teacher expectations of and reactions to student writing, considers writing as the mental process it involves, and explores one method of involving students in editing their own work. It is concluded that when students realize teachers read their writing to understand what they are saying, they write more interestingly. (25…

A survey of financial aid directors at all two-year colleges in four states measured differences between the administrators' desired and actual role functions. Analysis and implications of the results are presented. (MSE)

The mother of a seven-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome describes her feelings as she came to realize that, despite intense early stimulation activities, her son's developmental capabilities were limited. The article also notes that media exposure of the successes of some disabled children sometimes creates unrealistic expectations in parents.…

Discriminant analyses of 439 subjects who were asked to write an account of an achievement of failure, and to describe it in terms of locus of standards, conceptual focus, and initial expectations for success, indicated that cognitions were more readily patterned in terms of achievement domain than sex. (Author/BJV)

Four studies on special education teacher training were conducted: two surveys of individual states' manpower needs, a survey of preservice special education majors, and interviews with special education faculty from five states. Results revealed conflicting perceptions of teaching competencies, mismatches between training and job expectations,…

A survey of 46 college teachers and 72 students identified factors perceived as important in student academic success or failure in college. Another survey of 112 teachers and 392 students compared perceptions of the 2 groups concerning their relative importance. Reasons for and consequences of group differences are examined. (Author/MSE)

The relationships among the teacher's pet phenomenon, students' perceptions of teachers' differential behavior, and students' morale were investigated in 80 Israeli upper elementary classrooms. The intensity of the teacher's pet phenomenon was related to perceived teachers' differential behavior, which, in turn, was negatively related to student…

Presents common-sense approach that teaches principals how to assess themselves and their schools and gives them the authority to implement change. Superintendents need to visit schools at least twice monthly, pose improvement-oriented questions to principals, offer support for school improvement plans. Questions are concerned about defining…

This study, involving 10 children (ages 7-11) attending an English school for children with moderate learning difficulties and their parents, revealed that parents' and teachers' estimates of attainments did not deviate significantly from the scores actually obtained by the children. There was considerable variation between teachers and parents…

The predictive relationship between noncognitive variables, high school mathematics coursework, and admissions test scores with subsequent achievement in college mathematics was investigated. Noncognitive variables were found to be significant predictors of student grade performance in introductory mathematics taken during the first year of…