Evaluation of 44 projects in the Professional Development Funding Pool for 2000 has identified five ‘success factors’ for all schools working individually. These are project selection, planning, supportive ‘people’ structures, sustainable systems, and translating development into professional practice. Further factors were identified for successful professional development in secondary schools.

A research project showed that progress in a remedial reading programme for severely reading disabled adolescents was determined by the effects of their beliefs about ability and strategy effectiveness on their use of strategies to apply new letter-sound knowledge. Inflated beliefs about ability, and willingness to read extremely difficult text ...

Results of a study of literacy achievement data covering 1194 children turning six between January and August 2000, from 54 schools in the lower part of the North Island, show gender and ethnicity differences in all the areas tested by the schools. While the range for all ethnic groups was ...

This article explores the impact of book bags containing non-fiction books, related artefacts and activity sheets on the reading behaviour and attitudes of reluctant and struggling boy readers. Reprinted from Topic, Issue 25, Spring 2001.

One of the most obvious changes brought about by the curriculum reforms of the 1990s was the inclusion of technology as one of the seven areas of learning. The perceived impact of this ‘new’ area is explored, drawing on the curriculum-related findings of a study of the impact of education ...

This article sets out to ask questions about the desire for dialogue across cultural groups – a desire which is strongly held by many Pakeha in education. Pakeha educationist Alison Jones, drawing on her experience of teaching Maori, Pacific and Pakeha students at university level, argues that behind the benevolent ...

As the ‘new-look’ set: Research Information for Teachers enters its second year, NZCER would like to thank all subscribers for their loyalty and positive feedback. We would also like to thank the Specialist Education Service, and in particular Lewis Rivers, for their support, help, and advice during 2000. Although this ...

Two ERUDITE (Educational Research Underpinning Development in Teacher Education) case studies of teacher-child interactions during a social studies curriculum unit focus on a Samoan boy who is a beginner at learning English, and his class teacher. The case studies explore how the teacher supports his curriculum learning and his English ...

The significance of formative assessment strategies for student learning has been summed up by Paul Black and Dylan Wiliam in their review of all research data from 1988 to 1998. Twenty English teachers from a range of New Zealand secondary schools were asked how they understood the relationship between formative ...

What excites primary pupils about writing in school and what switches them off? This was the question explored by one Cambridgeshire primary school in a classroom-based investigation focusing on pupils’ perspectives on effective learning. The investigation gave teachers valuable insights into children’s understanding and responses to writing activities, and helped ...