Describes the ways in which our own view of the world effects the way that we interpret information. Contends that we need to know the difference between perceptions and illusions. Discusses the world of illusions; haptic senses; adaptive adjustments; and visual illusions. (ZWH)

Provides teachers with an understanding of how sighted children develop concepts about print and how blind children develop concepts about braille. Prereading activities designed to extend young children's concepts about print are adapted for blind children. (HTH)

Content analysis of the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale and the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence (TONI) revealed differences in the nature of perceptual and conceptual items. Both language-impaired and normal-language children performed significantly better on perceptual-type than conceptual-type items. The predominance of perceptual items was…

A continuation of the exploration of the various ways that knowledge and insight are achieved. Explains that even instruction in basic skills can benefit from this appreciation. Provides descriptions of classroom activities that demonstrate how the various modes of knowing can be used for conceptual exploration. (FL)

Reviews the development of spatial organization in children with blindness. Discusses the importance of motor exploration, tactual development, and spatial representation as critical factors in developing spatial and cognitive organizations of their surroundings. Suggests seven specific activities to improve spatial organization in blind children.…

The article suggests that Belcastro rods, which retain the basic properties of Cuisenaire rods but allow instant identification by touch, may be useful in teaching mathematical concepts to blind children. Drawings illustrate use of the rods in teaching such concepts as addition and subtraction. (Author/DB)

When interviewed, 105 third-grade students indicated that they did not view retardation as a set of behaviors, but as a trait, defined abstractly and perceived to be both predetermined and largely irreversible through personal effort. Children did not assume that being retarded excluded being pretty, athletic, or smart. (Author/JDD)

Identifies the principle types of cognitive and affective influences which contribute to the development of an individual's conceptual framework. Explains how external influences affect a child's interpretation of the environment. Urges that multidimensional experiences be offered to children and that students' perceptual levels, personal…

A structured system of visual features is seen to parallel the propositional hierarchy of operations usually associated with the parsing of algebraic expressions. Women more than men were found to depend on these visual cues. Possible causes and consequences are discussed. Subjects were secondary and college students. (Author/DC)

Discusses children's ideas about colored objects and colored shadows, with special attention to the organization of these ideas into mental models. The clarification of these models provides instructional tools that serve to assess and confront students' naive conceptions. Subjects were visitors to a science museum who engaged in interactive…

Provides examples of science activities in which children use their senses in manipulating objects and ideas. Suggests that these and other activities be extended to help children deepen their understanding of scientific concepts. (JN)

The literature is reviewed on the development of the temporal dimension in hearing-impaired students. Discussed are historical and cultural perspectives on the concept of time, perception of time, linguistic expression of time, and spatial and temporal orientation. Directions for future research are suggested. (Author/JDD)

Geometry is a fundamental part of the mathematics foundation provided by elementary education. Children have an intuitive understanding of geometry that they draw on when dealing with geometric concepts in activities like drawing, playing hopscotch, defending their "half of the room," and playing sports. This book offers no instruction…

The Canadian Readiness Test Learning Rate subtest and the Auditory Reception and Spatial Relations Concepts subtests on the Experimental Reading Readiness Test show high reliability in measuring the reading readiness of beginning first graders. The Experimental Test has a high coefficient of reliability as a total test. (SB)

Describes the Agam program, a 36-unit curriculum program to introduce students to basic visual concepts and that applies visual abilities and visual thinking to learning tasks. Describes two units at the third grade level, "Ratio and Proportion" and "Numerical Intuition," and makes observations of the students' learning. (MDH)