Describes a Fall 1984 cooperative learning project at a Phoenix, Arizona, junior high school involving three sections of mixed-ability student groupings in reading, English, and math. At year's end, all academic levels (particularly remedial students) in the mixed-ability classes fared better than their counterparts in the tracked classes. By…

The upper 15 to 20 percent of secondary school students may be provided for through enrichment within existing classes, ability grouping, and acceleration. A number of recommendations are made. (MS)

Discusses the case for identifying less restrictive categories and beginning a "desorting" process for the handicapped. (Author)

Discusses the philosophy behind a part-time program for young people who want to discover and develop their creativity. The program was pioneered in a Massachusetts school to emphasize the process of discovering what is unique about each student for goal-setting and to remedy the ills of tracking. (Author/JF)

Describes experiences in chemistry for fifth and sixth grade students of personal interest and ability. Activity purposes, procedures, materials, and evaluation items are given (JM)

Reviews the prospects of success of the latest efforts to reform Britain's national examination system. (DM)

Discusses problems associated with ability grouping in reading, including issues related to group placement, inequality of instruction and treatment, and classroom management. Considers the affective consequences of grouping, and suggests alternatives to ability grouping in reading. (RS)

A major organizational change is necessary to promote more equitable and effective instructional grouping schemes in schools. A palatable restructuring alternative that combines effective grouping with the flexibility to meet each school's needs is parallel block scheduling. This system capitalizes on teachers' strengths, promotes greater mixing…

Suggests a positive relationship between ability grouping of media writing students and improved competence in mechanical skills such as grammar and Associated Press style. Finds that students' place in the remedial ability group improved to the point where their skill level was not significantly different from students in the regular ability…

A major goal of the education of the gifted and talented is the development of the student as an independent, self-directed life-long learner. In other words, to help students develop as autonomous learners, with the appropriate skills, concepts, and attitudes necessary for their journeys. This is a complex task. The concepts of curriculum…

The study investigated the effects of structured and unstructured cooperating groups on students' behaviors, discourse and learning in junior high school. One hundred and sixty-four grade 9 students participated in the study. The students were videotaped as they worked in three to four person, mixed-gender and ability groups on a science-based…

This research aimed to explore the attitudes of teachers of practically based subjects (arts and sports) towards ability grouping. Teachers from 45 secondary schools adopting different levels of ability grouping completed a questionnaire which elicited their responses to statements of beliefs about ability grouping and its effects. Overall, the…

This article investigates gender differences in 181 gifted and 181 average-ability sixth graders in achievement, academic self-concept, interest, and motivation in mathematics. Giftedness was conceptualized as nonverbal reasoning ability and defined by a rank of at least 95% on a nonverbal reasoning subscale of the German Cognitive Abilities Test.…

Research supported by grant from the Nuffield Foundation.