Suggests ways to teach reading skills in context by drawing students' attention to general text elements, such as semantics, syntactics, graphophonics, print conventions, and creativity. (MM)

This experiment investigated the effects of progress self-monitoring on children's achievement and percepts of self-efficacy in the context of mathematical competency development. Results showed that self- and external monitoring led to significantly higher percepts of efficacy, skill, and persistence compared with no monitoring. (Author/PN)

Presents a modified social learning theory account of the contribution of imitation to sex role development. Subjects of the two experiments described were elementary school boys and girls. (MP)

Rather than emphasize specific facts, teaching science should help develop the whole person. Children learn science best when they are able to choose what they want to know. Suggestions for "living science" rather than parroting facts are offered. (DF)

The pleasures and advantages of informal learning are highlighted in a story about childhood visits to a fabric shop. Contrasts the unhurried, flexible, self-directed nature of informal learning situations with the more structured and controlled environment of the classroom. Discusses skills and lessons learned in informal settings and suggests…

Discusses the importance of recognizing patterns in nature to help understand the interactions of living and non-living things. Cautions the student not to lose sight of the details when studying the big picture. Encourages development of the ability to identify local species. Suggest two activities to strengthen observation skills and to help in…

Studies the impact that musical discrimination training which incorporates models and discriminator foils, as well as modeling and imitation, has on beginning instrumental music classes. Shows that musical discrimination can be developed using these methods. Recommends further study to find effects of discrimination training on instrumental music…

The effects of observing a model and of providing a response rule on the learning, transfer, and retention of a dial-reading, numerical concept were studied in 144 third-graders. Different experimenters conducted the immediate learning procedures versus the measurements of retention. No extrinsic reinforcers were promised or dispensed. The…

This study of two groups of four children (ages 6-9) with learning disabilities evaluated the effects of two contingencies (independent and interdependent) on the learning of students with learning and behavioral disabilities when conducted in small groups with constant time delay. Measures were collected on the rapidity with which children…

This study investigated the effect of singing within the elementary school music classroom on (1) students' preference for one of two performances of the same song and (2) students' ideas of "correct" performance. Seventy-five third and fourth graders were concurrently involved in separate experimental groups. One group was taught to sing…

In this paper the author relates her experiences as an advisor to elementary school teachers on the subject of building curriculum. The philosophy expressed in her narrative is that learning begins when children seek the answers to their own questions and that curriculum can be developed out of children's immediate environment. The teacher must…