Persistent arithmetic, reading, or arithmetic and reading disability

The achievement of 1,075 school children was followed to the end of grade 7 or 8. Retrospective details of birth, medical history, and infant adaptive behavior, as well as current information about preschool behavior, were provided by parents before kindergarten entry when their children were ages four to five. At that time, each child was given language, preacademic, and visual-motor tests, and a short-form verbal IQ was obtained. For grades 1 to 8, a mean 6.9 percent qualified as low in arithmetic (including 3.9 percent low only in arithmetic) and 9 percent as low in reading (including 6 percent low only in reading). Groups of children with persistent disability in arithmetic only (2.3 percent), reading only (6.6 percent), and arithmetic plus reading (3.4 percent) were compared on all variables, and gender differences were examined. The specific arithmetic group was superior to the other two groups in preschool verbal IQ and language, and had suffered more birth problems and illness. As found by Rourke and his colleagues (e.g., Rourke and Finlayson 1978) for older children, boys with a specific arithmetic disability showed a preschool profile with high verbal scores and low nonverbal scores. Many gender differences were found for the total sample, but few for the learning disability subgroups.     

An Investigation of The Effects of A Seventh and Eighth Grade Core Program

Abstract

The writer (Ogletree) conducted a creativity study in England, Scotland, and Germany, which included 1,165 primary school children. Results showed that creativity scores (using the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking) were a function of socioeconomic background. In all countries, children of upper class families obtained significantly higher creativity scores (verbal and nonverbal) than children of middle and lower class families. The same significant difference was evident in middle class children to lower class children. This was true when analyzed within countries, by age, grade, and sex. There was no evidence to support the contention that youngsters of lower class backgrounds performed better on nonverbal tasks than their higher class peers, although they did make a better showing on the nonverbal tasks than on the verbal tasks.     

An Experimental Effort to Improve Instruction Through Visual Feedback

Abstract

Recreational activities of 76 high and 88 low IQ boys, and 100 high and 95 low IQ girls in the seventh through twelfth grades were surveyed by a checklist of 42 items. Responses of the upper 25 percent (IQ 111 and above) and lowest 25 percent (IQ 90 and below) were compared. At the five percent level of confidence, lower IQ boys participated more in solitary, out-of-doors activities and in those of a more aggressive nature. Going to school activities are more common of capable students. Able girls are involved more in social recreation such as going on picnics, eating together in restaurants, going to slumber and regular parties, and sitting around restaurants and just talking. Intelligent girls also study more together and go to school affairs more often.     

Student Attitudes Toward Child Behavior Problems

Abstract

This study investigated differences in verbal ability and school achievement of bilingual and monolingual children in grades 3,4, and 5. American children attending a Department of Defense school at Camp Zama, Japan, were classified as bilingual or monolingual based on information provided by parents. Children were also classified as being of high, middle, or low nonverbal ability in terms of the Nonverbal score of the Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Tests. Dependent variables were the Lorge-Thorndike Verbal Score and the 15 scores on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. At grade 3, bilingual and monolingual children performed similarly. By grade 4, monolingual children performed noticeably better than bilingual children on verbal or language type tests, and in grade 5 the differences were even more substantial. On relatively nonverbal tests, bilingual and monolingual children continued to perform similarly.     

Needed Research in the Field of Learning

Abstract

One hundred and thirty-four children in grades 1-6 were administered a reading altitude inventory to ascertain if altitudes changed as boys and girls progressed through the grades. Results indicated no altitude changes from grades 1-3 nor between grades 5 and 6. A difference was found between grades 4 and 5 that appeared attributable to a more positive attitude toward nonclassroom-type reading in grade 5. Sex differences approaching statistical significance favored girls; however, no interaction between sex and grade level were reported.     

A new science and engineering career interest survey for middle school students

This study describes the development and validation of a science and engineering (S/E) career interest survey (CIS). This 56 question survey was developed to measure the overall S/E career interests of 7th through 9th grade students. In the CIS, a S/E career is characterized as one which requires the completion of at least a four-year college program with a major in science, science education, or engineering. The CIS is divided into four major parts. In Part I (30 questions), students are expected to select from occupational activities, while in Part II (20 questions) they are to select from various occupations. Part III (5 questions) and Part IV together make up the CIS internal verification scale. The CIS test-retest reliability coefficients for one week and eight months were calculated as 0.96 (n = 57, grades 7–9) and 0.78 (n = 1937, grade 8), respectively. The KR-21 estimate for the CIS was calculated as 0.92. Criterion-related validity coefficients were calculated in two ways: (a) CIS scores were correlated with the Kuder GIS science subscale (r = 0.75, n = 45, grades 7–9), and (b) CIS scores were correlated with a CIS internal verification scale (r = 0.59, n = 127, grades 7–9). Evidence to support the construct validity of the CIS was collected by two methods: (a) for 7–9 grade students (n = 45), the CIS score was found to correlate 0.75 with the scientific subscale and ?0.42 with the artistic sub-scale, of the Kuder GIS. (b) the second method compared the scores of known groups. Test results for students in grades 7-9 (n = 127; n = 1937) showed a statistically significant difference between the scores of boys and girls on S/E career interest. The readability of the CIS was seventh grade level.     

Evidence for unexpected weaknesses in learning in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder without reading disabilities

This study examined the mechanisms underlying verbal learning in children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), none of whom had reading disabilities. Children with ADHD were compared to typically developing children on both process and product scores from the California Verbal Learning Test for Children. The findings indicated that children with ADHD initially learned the same number of words as controls but showed weaknesses recalling the words after delays, suggesting that children with ADHD are less efficient learners. Regardless of ADHD status, boys and girls performed differently. Boys used semantic clustering less frequently and recalled fewer words from the middle region of the list than girls; girls also outperformed boys in terms of overall performance, despite lower verbal IQ scores. These findings show that children with ADHD can exhibit unexpected weaknesses in learning even without a formal learning disability. Gender differences in verbal learning are also illustrated.     

Predictive validity of the WPPSI-R: A four year follow-up study

Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) scores obtained prior to enrollment in kindergarten are used to predict academic achievement scores on the Comprehensive Testing Program III at the end of grades 1, 2, and 3. Correlations between achievement and Verbal IQ are significant at all three grade levels, with measures of vocabulary, general knowledge, and verbal concept formation (Similarities) being the most consistent verbal predictors of academic achievement. Performance IQ is a poor predictor of academic achievement, with only 3 out of 16 correlations with achievement reaching significance. The Full Scale IQ's correlations with achievement appear to be due to the contributions of the verbal scale. Results are discussed in terms of their generalizability for this middle- and upper-middle-class sample engaged in a demanding academically-oriented curriculum.     

Longitudinal Consistency of Elaboration Scores

Sixty kindergarten, sixty second grade, and sixty fourth grade students performed several memory tasks under one of six conditions. The conditions differed as to the method of presentation of information. The study focused on developmental changes in children’s use of verbal, nonverbal, and spatial-positional cues for memory. The results, in general, showed consistent trends suggestive of a developmental change in representational ability, such that younger children tended to rely on visual cues and older children tended to rely on verbal cues to retain information. Children in all grades performed better when both visual and verbal cues were available and demonstrated an ability to utilize spatial-positional cues for retention.     

Likes and Dislikes of Indonesian Pupils

Abstract

An investigation of the hypothesis: Children who select unconventional (U) careers have more creative ability than those who select conventional (C) ones. C or U careers were determined by frequency of occupational choice of 609 sixth grade children. Measures of creativity were the Minnesota Tests of Creative Thinking. Using t tests at the .05 level of confidence, U boys were compared against C boys and U girls against C girls on four different measures of creativity. While ail U groups scored higher than C groups on the creativity measures (with one exception), the results were statistically significant only for nonverbal elaboration. The results partially confirm the hypothesis and simultaneously provide evidence of the validity of the Minnesota tests. The norms on occupational choice contribute to identifying the developmental sequence of career aspirations.     

Prevalence of reading failure in boys compared with girls

The hypothesis that proportionately more boys than girls experience reading failure was tested on a sample of 708 children using both test-identified and teacher-identified criteria. Test-identified reading failure was defined by low scores on standardized reading achievement tests given at the end of first and third grade. For Severely Reading Disabled (total reading score at the 10th percentile or lower), the ratio of boys to girls was 1.4:1 at first grade and 1.3:1 at third. At both grades equal proportions of boys and girls were represented in the Reading Disabled category (total reading score between the 11th and 30th percentile). Teacher-identified reading failure criteria consisted of enrollment in LD and Chapter One (remedial reading) programs at first and third grades. Teacher-identified ratios of boys to girls in LD were 2:1 at both first and third grade, exceeding the test-identified ratios, while identification for Chapter One services did not show a gender difference.     

Kompetent und beliebt?

Peer popularity is a relevant aspect of well-being and academic success. Amongst other impact factors self-concept and academic achievement are predictive for peer popularity. The present study focuses on the correlation of students’ grades, competencies and self-concepts in mathematics and reading to perceived peer popularity. Against the background of gender stereotypes with respect to the domains mathematics and reading, we hypothesized differential relationships with boys’ and girls’ perceived popularity. In a sample from the National Educational Panel Study of grade five students (N = 4427) from lower (Hauptschule), middle (Realschule) and highest (Gymnasium) track schools, we conducted a multiple group comparison. The results showed similar relationships for both girls and boys in all three school forms. There was a correlation of students’ grades in mathematics and of their verbal self-evaluation with their perceived peer popularity. However, grades in language arts (i.?e. German), domain-specific competencies and mathematical self-concept were not related to perceived popularity. Results suggest that high verbal self-concept is positively associated with high self-assurance in social situations and in communication situations and that mathematics is regarded as more difficult and cognitively challenging compared to language arts.     

THE EFFECT OF RACE OF EXAMINER ON THE MENTAL TEST SCORES OF WHITE AND BLACK PUPILS1

An entire elementary school system with 60% white and 40% black pupils was given several abiity tests group-administered by 12 white and eight black examiners (Es). The tests measured verbal and nonverbal IQ, perceptual-motor cognitive development, “speed and persistence” under neutral and motivating instructions, listening-attention, and short-term rote memory for numbers. With the exception of the “speed and persistence” test, on which white Es yielded significantly and consistently higher mean scores than black Es for both white and black pupils across grades one to six, the results for the various cognitive ability tests showed that the race of the E did not produce large or consistent effects in the testing of white and black pupils.     

An investigation of the Iowa tests of basic skills for sex bias: A developmental look

Results of the Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Concepts subtests for third-, sixth-, and eighth-grade students who took Form 5 of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in the 1976 school year were analyzed for sex bias. Statistical significance was found for each subtest for all of the grade levels. Follow-up analyses considered skill classification, sex-stereotypicalness, and item location of the items contributing to the statistical significance. No trends for these factors were found within each grade level for the four subtests considered. For all subtests, fewer items are identified at the third-grade level than for sixth or eighth grade, and these items, in general, favored boys. For the older students, when items are found to function differently for boys and girls, nearly half favor each sex. On the whole, little evidence for sex bias was found for the four subtests and three grade levels examined.     

Concepts of Meaning and the Reading and Spelling Difficulty of Words

Abstract

This study investigated sex and grade differences of 503 disadvantaged students in kindergarten to grade three on behavioral traits delineated by orthogonal factor analysis. Six factors were extracted and factor scores used as dependent variables in univariate analyses of variance. Primary results indicated that a) creativity indices among disadvantaged students in the sample decreased steadily from kindergarten to grade three, and b) contrary to research conducted with general population $s, girls in the sample exhibited more aggressive behavior than boys and were no more dependent on the teacher than the boys. Possible explanations and implication are discussed.     

Sex and grade differences and learning rate in an intensive summer reading clinic

In a long-term study of student progress in the Loyola University of the South Summer Reading Clinic, patterns of variance for sex and grade level were examined. Three assessment tools were used: the Nelson Reading Test (Vocabulary and Paragraph Comprehension) for grades four through eight, the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test (Vocabulary and Comprehension) for grades one through three, and the Spache Diagnostic Reading Scales (Instructional [oral] and Independent [silent] subtests) for all students. Subjects were 684 public and private school students in grades one through eight referred to the Clinic over an eight-year period. All were referred for possible reading disabilities. Because reading disabled males outnumber reading disabled females in the general population, the Clinic's data were examined to elucidate the comparative success rates of boys and girls in an intensive reading clinic setting. Grade differences also were examined to find significant differences in rate of learning among different grades. Females outscored males significantly on all measures. Both a difference in performance among grades and a difference in rate of learning among grades were shown.     

Emotion Expression Processes in Children''s Peer Interaction: The Role of Peer Rejection, Aggression, and Gender

The goal of the current study was to investigate sociometric status, aggression, and gender differences in children's expression of anger, happiness, and sadness. Participants were 111 second-grade African American boys and girls, half rejected and half average sociometric status, and half aggressive and half nonaggressive as assessed by their peers. Children interacted with a confederate in two standardized competitive game paradigms. Participants' expressions of anger, happiness, and sadness were observationally coded across facial, verbal intonation, and nonverbal modalities. Rejected children expressed more facial and verbal anger than average-status children. Rejected children also expressed more nonverbal happiness than average children, but only during turns of the game that were favorable to the participant. Finally, boys expressed more facial, verbal, and nonverbal anger than girls.     

Grouping by Sex at the First and Second Grade

Abstract

Male and female students in equal numbers from first and second grade were selected without bias from control and experimental classes. The experimental classes consisted of instructional groups arranged homogeneously by sex. The duration of the study was one year, Reading vocabulary and comprehension were examined by analysis of covariance with IQ as the covariate. Personal, social and total adjustment scores were examined in a 2x2x2 factorial, repeated measures design using analysis of variance procedures. Auditory discrimination scores also were examined using the analysis of variance. Teacher reports were made in an unstructured manner. General lack of significant differences and generally unfavorable reactions of teachers to homogeneous grouping by sex lead to the conclusion that boys and girls can profitably remain together for instruction at the first and second grade.     

An observational study of social exclusion under varied conditions: gender and developmental differences

To investigate social exclusion, 146 dyads of close friends (N = 292, ages 10, 12, and 14) were observed as they played a board game with a same-gender confederate actor, trained to be a difficult play partner. Verbalizations and gestures were coded for verbal and nonverbal social exclusion, verbal aggression, and verbal assertion. The results indicated few developmental differences. For verbal responses in the presence of the actor, boys were more socially exclusive and verbally aggressive than were girls. Girls engaged in more nonverbal social exclusion in the presence of the actor than did boys. Girls' socially exclusive behaviors were unrelated to other negative behaviors and more strongly related between friends in the actor's absence.     

Junior Primary in the Van Dyke Level Plan

Abstract

Attitudes toward school subjects were explored in a group of sixth graders. First, correlations were obtained between ratings of school subjects on the Semantic Differential (SD) and scores on corresponding subtests of the SRA Achievement Series. Significant positive correlations (p < .01) were observed for boys in social studies, arithmetic, and reading and for girls in reading. Second, achievement at the end of the year was predicted from IQ, achievement and SD scores at the beginning of the year. SD ratings contributed significantly to predictions only in the case of arithmetic for boys (p < .01). Third, SD ratings of school subjects at the beginning and end of the year were compared by an anlysis of variance procedure. For both boys and girls, attitudes were significantly less favorable for most subjects at the end of the year.