| Abstract: | Teachers' explanations for students' low achievement were reliably classified using the attributional coding system proposed by Cooper and Good (1983). Teachers most frequently attributed low achievement to a typical pattern of low effort. They viewed acquired student characteristics (e.g., low motivation, poor work habits) as more important than either teacher variables or classroom variables in explaining students' low achievement. Implications of these attribution patterns for improving student achievement and for developing student self-esteem are discussed. |
