The standby wooden blocks that are prevalent in most high-quality early childhood classrooms are missing from most primary and elementary grades. The goal for block play in early childhood is to support learning in mathematics, science, art, literacy and language arts, physical development, social studies, and social and emotional growth. This…

As reading is vital to success in life and opens the door to nearly all other learning opportunities, it is essential that educators understand why students with learning how to read. Therefore, it is key for both professionals and researchers to establish their own approaches to assist those with reading difficulties. "Developing Effective…

Spatial reasoning--the ability to visualise and play with shapes in one's mind--is essential in many fields, and crucial in any Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics [STEM] discipline. It is, for example, the ability that the engineer needs to build bridges; the chemist to see the three-dimensional structure of a molecule; the architect to…

Recent studies have shown that strengths in spatial skills are a key to success in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers. However, these skills are undervalued in our educational system and thus seldom incorporated in classroom teaching. As a first step towards changing the current practices, we worked with a group of…

This study addressed predictors of the development of word problem solving (WPS) across the intermediate grades. At beginning of 3rd grade, 4 cohorts of students (N = 261) were measured on computation, language, nonverbal reasoning skills, and attentive behavior and were assessed 4 times from beginning of 3rd through end of 5th grade on 2 measures…

This study investigates one way humans cope with change--problem-solving. It concentrates on the human abilities important to efficient problem-solving and the processes involved in problem-solving. The objectives of this study were: (1) to develop three group administration tasks that measure problem-solving processes; (2) to evaluate the…

Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress related to student ability to use information from graphs and charts is discussed. (MP) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Interpretation).

The premise of the Creative Technology Project, a collaboration by Autodesk, Inc., the School of Education at Oregon State University, and Novato Unified School District in the San Francisco Bay Area, was that children's cognitive abilities could be enhanced by having them develop, displace, transform, and interact with 2D and 3D…

The purpose of this study was to determine if selected mental, mathematical, reading, and personality assessments of sixth-grade pupils could predict high achievers in mathematical verbal problem solving. The subjects were 112 sixth graders, 56 classified as high achievers in mathematical verbal problem solving and 56 classified as low achievers…

Analyses of test results were used to identify a structure of intellectual abilities related to mathematical problem-solving performance. (MP)

Introduces a three-year research project called Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (CASE) that focuses on increasing student achievement by developing thinking skills. (YDS)

Features responses to a problem that appeared in the January, 2001 issue of this journal. The problem concerned finding all of the shape combinations of two colors of blocks in four-block combinations. (KHR)

Presents a problem of tetras made with four cubes, mathematical ideas involved in this problem, and guiding questions for teachers. (KHR)