In this paper, we identify ways in which the learning of very young children can be supported by practitioners developing a schematic pedagogy which focuses on structures of children's thinking. First, we provide a critical overview of relevant literature on schemas and schematic approaches to pedagogy. We then outline an original study undertaken…

Children's acquisition of tool use abilities is an important part of development but is not yet well understood. This study compares two modes of tool-use learning, observation and individual haptic experience. Two- and 3-year-olds had haptic experience with tools, observed tool use by others, had both haptic and observational experience, or no…

Humans gather most of their knowledge about the world, including objectively true facts and specific cultural norms, by observing and being taught by others. Some individuals are worthy teachers and objects of imitation, having knowledge of cultural practices and positive intentions to inform. Others are better ignored because they are ignorant,…

This study examined the extent to which situational context differentially influences components of play. Two groups of play variables were distinguished: (1) style variables, (reflecting the overall tempo and diversity of play) and viewed as relatively sensitive indicators of short term reactions of situations; and (2) structural variables,…

A CATEGORY SYSTEM FOR SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION OF HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY LABORATORY AND LECTURE-DISCUSSION-RECITATION CLASSES WAS DEVELOPED AND USED TO QUANTIFY, ANALYZE, AND DESCRIBE OBSERVED CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR. THE CATEGORY SYSTEM WAS DEVELOPED BY OBSERVING EIGHT HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHERS ONCE EACH MONTH FOR FOUR SUCCESSIVE MONTHS. THE OBSERVER…

This policy brief explores kindergarten readiness observation and its benefits to local and state level stakeholders; highlights efforts by California counties and other states to measure school readiness; and makes recommendations for moving toward statewide use of kindergarten readiness observation tools. Key points include: (1) Early efforts to…

THIS COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTIVE THINKING IN RETARDED AND NONRETARDED CHILDREN USED DATA FROM A SAMPLE OF 78 PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS--(1) MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN IN SPECIAL CLASSES, (2) RETARDED CHILDREN IN REGULAR CLASSES, AND (3) NONRETARDED CHILDREN IN REGULAR CLASSES. THE GROUPS WERE SELECTED SO THAT THERE…

This bulletin is one of a series on the place of subjects in the elementary school curriculum. The first of the series showed how subject matter is introduced into the program in a modern school. The other bulletins in the series discuss how various skills, such as reading, creating in art, and writing are developed in the modern school program.…