Two cases are cited to suggest that problem-solving has more value for the intellectual development of children when compared to the passive virtue of already knowing the answer. (DW)

Examines three problem-solving models that have applications for the elementary school classroom. All are easily understandable, practical, pedagogical, and will improve children's thinking. Models are the Universal Traveler, Philosophy for Children, and the Decide Model. (Author/AV)

Productive thinking, problem solving, and strategies for coping, learning, and living are all part of the ZING curriculum for emotionally disturbed and/or learning disabled students in grades 6, 7, and 8. (Author/SBH)

Described is Project Reach (Reaching Educators and Actualizing Children) which is designed for gifted students, and includes exercises in productive thinking, student participation in planning, decision making, forecasting, communication, creative problem solving, and mind stretching. (KC)

Describes a new approach for increasing teaching effectiveness in the area of social studies by helping teachers recognize and nurture multiple talents in all children (Talents Unlimited). Objectives of the approach are to develop students' productive thinking, communication, forecasting, decision making, and planning skills. (DB)

This review examines 12 programs designed for use in classrooms to develop "general thinking skills" used in learning and problem-solving situations inside and outside classrooms. Analysis of program features focuses on the extent to which each program shows promise in helping students transfer the skills they develop through completing…

This study investigated the development of the concept of a critical search area by means of an action sequence in which a cartoon character loses his toy while walking through his house. The results showed that it is not until ages 7 or 8 that children readily make the inference that the critical area is the only plausible place to search for the…

This article outlines an eight-station learning center, based on commercial materials, which students may use in their free time to improve skills in deductive and inductive reasoning, criticism and analysis, creative thinking, problem solving, and moral reasoning. (Author/SJL)

Most mathematical ideas can be taught with simplicity. It may be necessary to give up the phrase "mathematics education" and replace it with "basic quantitative literacy." (Author)

TO IMPLEMENT THE PHILOSOPHY THAT GOOD WRITING STEMS FROM GOOD THINKING AND THAT PRACTICE IN PRODUCTIVE THINKING IS A PREREQUISITE FOR WRITING INSTRUCTION, THE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS OF LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA, PREPARED THIS GUIDE FOR TEACHING WRITTEN EXPRESSION IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHT. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO HELP CHILDREN (1) THINK…

Examined the relationship between social adjustment and problem solving skills in samples of popular, aggressive, and isolated boys. Popular boys generated more problem solutions than the other groups. Data showed deviant boys are deficient in generating solutions but not in evaluations of presented solutions. (Author/RC)

Two strategies listed here, Values Voting Strategy and Rank Order Strategy, provide children with worthwhile experiences in making choices and decisions. From the book, Values Clarification, A Handbook of Practical Strategies for Teachers and Students. (Author/JB)

The aim of this study was to determine what happens when three fourth-grade teachers give instruction in productive thinking in language arts and geography. The central question was how this instruction affected verbal productive thinking by teachers and their pupils. Five hypotheses were tested, and it was found that (1) pupils in all classes…