Maria Montessori developed a form of education in the first half of the last century that came to be called by her surname, and research indicates it often has positive outcomes. In the years since its development, tens of thousands of schools worldwide have called their programs "Montessori," yet implementations vary widely, leading to…

One of a series of documents produced by a nationwide network of early childhood education specialists, teachers, parents, and Head Start staff, the guide describes developmental characteristics of preschool and elementary school students by grade level. Arranged into five curriculum areas, the first presents physical, motor, social, cognitive,…

Maintains that a major theme in Lev Vygotsky's later research was concept formation or conceptual development in child development. States that Vygotsky argued that the acquisition of mature academic concepts forms the crowning achievement of adolescence. Argues that the view raises a number of criticisms. (CFR)

Noting that young adolescents--around 10 to 15 years of age--undergo significant emotional, social, intellectual, and physical changes, this book serves as a reference for parents, educators, and policymakers concerned with education that meets the unique needs of the student population. The five sections of the book cover the historical and…

Students' decisions are influenced by the moral climate of their school. Changing social, economical, and traditional family structures have contributed to an upheaval of moral foundations. As a result, schools are becoming a critical arena for students to develop into morally responsible adults. Consequently, the moral growth of teachers is an…

Discusses the development of the thinking function and factors influencing that development, and presents strategies for teaching thinking. (MD)

Reviews the place of creativity in the two major orientations of art education: (1) creative self-expression; and (2) discipline-based art education (DBAE). Asserts that critics of DBAE argue that it is dry and does not allow for creative expression. Rejects this notion and claims that properly implemented DBAE produces intellectual and emotional…

Descriptions and implications of five stages of professional development of science teachers are provided. Behavioral characteristics for each stage are stressed. (CW)

Maintains that Canadian scholar, Kieran Egan, developed a schema of childhood development that presents a bold, new approach to the stages of growth, both affectively and cognitively. Describes Egan's views and how the school curriculum must be adapted to correspond more closely to these views. (CFR)

Constructive-developmental theory, with its emphasis on epistemology and cognitive complexity, explicitly links learning and developmental growth. One model, which identifies five shifts in perception throughout the life span, describes some of higher education's values and objectives. The theory offers a promising direction for student evaluation…

The Cognitive Levels Matching (CLM) project uses a constructivist base to teach teachers how to match the cognitive demands of curriculum and cognitive abilities of students. (MD)

This book offers a holistic examination of well-being across the life course by experts in psychology, sociology, child development, and medicine, and describes foundational strengths for well-being from infancy through adulthood. The chapters are: (1) "A Brief History of the Study of Well-Being in Children and Adults" (Kristin A. Moore…

Describes a classroom project for middle school students where developmental theory was translated into instruction promoting cognitive development. (MD)

This booklet presents a set of criteria that can be used to evaluate and compare curricula for the teaching of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The criteria are arranged in a checklist covering curriculum content and curriculum development/implementation. The booklet discusses developmental…

Contends that emergent developmental sequences are energized in a continuous interaction with environmental influences. Asserts that a developmentally and individually appropriate curriculum is sequential and matched to the naturally emerging developmental sequences of the child. Proposes four research emphases for the 1990s. (CFR)