Through a Chicago Public School Program fifth-grade students from different cultures and backgrounds were brought together to experience and learn about a forest environment. These urban students (N=269) completed a brief questionnaire about their previous experiences, perceptions, and expectations regarding forest resources. Findings indicate…

In contrast to early research (such as Coleman's) that concluded schools could not override influences of the home environment, more current research indicates that schools can make a difference. This paper summarizes those research findings (emphasizing the limitations of the research from the practitioner's perspective) and relates them to new…

Although the effect of teacher expectations on student performance has been well documented, little research has focused on the effect of teacher personality styles on student-teacher interactions. To investigate the effect of teachers' locus of control and their expectations of their own effectiveness on student success, 77 female college…

This literature review briefly lists the findings of studies on effective schools. The findings are organized under the following categories (which correspond to the Indicator of Quality Schools Assessment instrument categories): curricular congruence, assessment, leadership of the principal, high expectations, school wide norms, school climate,…

Self-efficacy is defined as the belief that one can successfully perform a behavior. Self-efficacy theory asserts that self-efficacy expectancies exert powerful influence on behavior and behavior change. The Self-efficacy Scale, which was developed to assess generalized self-efficacy expectations, consists of two subscales: general self-efficacy…

This summary describes events transpiring at 12 regional forums sponsored by the Department of Education after the publication of the National Commission on Excellence in Education's final report, "A Nation at Risk." Attended by over 10,000 participants, the regional forums established the context for a national understanding of the…

Hispanic American youths' educational and career aspirations and expectations and parental influence on these attitudes are the subject of this study. Variables studied include parent status items (occupation, education, income). Comparisons among Hispanic subgroups (Mexican Americans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and other Latins) and among Hispanics,…

This paper presents an overview of systems theory as an introduction to the applications possible to a model of burnout. Literature dealing with burnout is reviewed and shown to be in an early, descriptive stage, with basic concepts largely unchallenged. Meier's (1982) expanded model of burnout, based on current cognitive-behavioral and vocational…

Building on previous research indicating that among first, third, and fifth graders, older children expect affective expressive behavior to be regulated, a study was made of children's beliefs about rationales for and consequences of regulated affective expressive behavior. Children's beliefs were examined in conjunction with their parents' (1)…

Instruments and procedures used and problems encountered in a recent evaluation of changes in a school guidance program are discussed. Evaluation activities focused on determining: whether staff achieved their objectives and whether the guidance units were effective in helping students achieve goals derived from a district-wide needs assessment.…

An examination of the probability of enrolling in postsecondary education, the likelihood of completing various types of credentials, and the effects of these credentials on wage rates, earnings, and other adult outcomes was conducted using data derived from the National Longitudinal Study of the Class of 1972. The followup survey in 1986…

This study of child care providers examined the effect of parental status of providers on providers' expectations of parents and the effect of these expectations on behavior. A total of 85 child care providers from 11 child care centers completed a questionnaire that measured their attitudes about good parents, parents with children in their…

In this discussion of the relationship between ethnic majority teachers and minority group students the following issues are addressed: (1) teacher expectations; (2) modes of conversation; (3) styles of communication; (4) teacher calling-on-student behavior; and (5) eye contact. A recommendation is that action be taken on these issues and that…

This research bulletin contains parts of two studies dealing with the persistent problem of developing effective teachers and stimulating effective teaching. The study reported in "Attitudes toward Merit Pay for Instructional Personnel" (John Weigman) was conducted to survey, analyze, and compare the attitudes of Florida public school…

This issue contains several articles synthesizing research on effective schools conducted by the Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory (McREL). Six "folios," or handouts, intended for dissemination to teachers, review the research and make specific suggestions for teachers on: (1) beginning the school year; (2) time management; (3)…