Addresses linguistic features associated with the differentiated curricula of high school classrooms and consequences for learners of the school language. This article explores processes by which language minority students are placed in tracked classrooms and the means some use to negotiate the system to change. (64 references) (Author/CK)

Studied the prevalence and learning consequences of ability grouping in French lower secondary schools (colleges). Findings for about 30,000 students show that ability grouping is relatively widespread in France, and that the average level of the class is positively associated with student learning. For low achievers, a homogeneous class is the…

Describes a study conducted with mature students at the Open University (Great Britain) who entered with low educational qualifications. Using a social cognitive framework, a model of credible and tentative students was developed which focuses on the interplay between psychological, social, and institutional issues which affected their study.…

Examines ways of helping gifted adolescents cope with a perceived stigma. Research is cited showing that many gifted adolescents believe they are treated differently because of their abilities and behave differently because of this belief, including denial of one's giftedness. The school's role, ability grouping, and special needs of gifted girls…

Presents a model of instruction to illustrate that helping students understand a text need not be at odds with engaging them in student-oriented transactions. Analyzes effects of giving lower-track students direct instruction in how experienced readers evaluate reliability of literary characters by examining the writing and discussions that the…

Reports findings of retrospective study of tracked grouping (a fast track for top 25-30% of a cohort and a mixed track for the others) in a mathematics department in a greater London (England) coeducational comprehensive school. Outlines reasons for introducing tracking and explores its effects through teacher interviews and student data. (BT)

While a negative effect of ability grouping on the achievement of students assigned to lower ability groups has been noted frequently, no empirical research has looked at the effects on academic achievement of moving a student from one ability group level to a higher or lower group. In this paper, I report results of an empirical study that…

The study focused on the impact of flexible grouping on student learning during a period of time in a high-needs school. The study tracked non transient, below-goal elementary students on multiple literacy assessments during a 5-year flexible grouping implementation. Results showed that the percentage of students attaining mastery increased in 16…

Describes the procedure for grouping pupils according to ability as practiced at the Gesamtschule at Kierspe (Nord-rhein-Westfalen), grades 6-9. Then the division of learning material into basic and supplementary matter is described, giving the supplementary materials for Grades 5-9. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

A study proposed a sequenced process for inferring word meaning from context in order to investigate experimentally where, within the process, differences between learners of varying skill occur, and to discover the kinds of information students need in order to acquire vocabulary most effectively. Six five-step tasks, each designed around an…

This manual provides guidelines and activities for organizing and managing junior high school classes. The first five chapters are devoted to the topic of getting ready for the beginning of the school year; the last four chapters suggest guidelines and activities that are helpful in maintaining a management system. Chapter 1 deals with organizing…

Article sought to answer the question of whether pupils in comparable ability levels, taught in homogeneous and heterogeneous classes, differ significantly in achievement gain in 11th grade American history at the .05 alpha level. (Author/RK)

Social, philosophical, and economic pressures are confronting curriculum designers with the major problem of designing instruction which produces consistently high learning despite wide variation in student characteristics. This is essentially a cybernetic question of regulating variety in a system to produce a stable output. It is observed that…

Wechsler intelligence scales are used to investigate the areas of factor structure, age and sex differences in regard to parent and child resemblance in ability. (Author/DEP)

Foreign language students, teachers and administrators in Erie County, New York, were interviewed to determine their attitudes toward grouping pupils according to achievement in foreign languages. Some teachers were found to prefer ability grouping, but administrators favored heterogeneous grouping. Average achievers and male students favored…