The third in a series of three booklets intended for parents of young handicapped children addresses cognition. The development of cognition is discussed and milestones charted from birth to age five. Learning processes are enumerated (using the senses, attending, exploring, adapting, imitating, and asking questions). Suggestions are given for…

The paper reviews definitions of differentiated curricula for gifted students and considers approaches for differentiation. Curriculum content can be modified by making it more abstract, more complex, more varied, and organized differently from the regular curriculum. Process modification can be accomplished through higher level thinking,…

The article examines four question-asking practices that prevail in school: maximizing higher level questions, translating identified weaknesses into questions, using questions to create a shared context, and using questions to avoid explicit criticism. (CL)

Presents 10 guidelines that staff developers can utilize when assisting teachers in teaching thinking skills to students. Provides guidelines for both practical and theoretical guidance for developing workshop materials, conducting training sessions, and conducting follow-up activities. (AH)

Describes cognitive levels matching (CLM) as a process by which teachers informally and formally assess students' cognitive levels and adapt instruction according to students' needs. Discusses four informal strategies that can assist teachers in acquiring developmental perspective basic to CLM. (CMG)

Guidelines are given for teaching basic concepts (such as "above,""least," and "different") to students who are educable mentally handicapped. Stressed is direct and systematic instruction in basic concepts as an integral part of the curriculum with concrete, representative, and abstract applications. (DB)

The cognitive approach to education is briefly summarized, and its implications for learning disabilities considered. The approach, which includes the genetic epistemology espoused by J. Piaget and information processing theory, proposes the importance of active involvement and control processes. (CL)

The paper reviews cognitive development during the sensorimotor period (approximately the first two years of life) and considers approaches to assessing multihandicapped, deaf-blind, or severely/profoundly retarded students functioning at this level. Evaluation and training of basic sensorimotor schemes (visual fixation and tracking, sucking, and…

A program designed to teach cognitive strategies through logical problem-solving and developed for elementary learning disabled students is presented. For each problem set, the instructional procedure involves a discovery activity, discussion, conclusion, follow-up activities, and integration. Five samples of the program's problem sets (e.g.,…

A program is described that is designed to improve the cognitive planning abilities and social skills of students nine to 16 years old with behavior problems. Students learn the cognitive planning sequence of stop, plan, do, and check. (CL)

Among ways suggested for teaching problem solving strategies are to select problem situations appropriate to the learner and to encourage learning from errors. A problem solving process which can be used with young children includes the components of formulation; interpretation; generation; decision making; implementation; evaluation; and…

The theoretical literature which has had an impact upon the teaching of composition and which has evolved into the language across the curriculum approach to education, focuses upon the interaction of language and learning. By teaching about speaking and writing, educators are potentially teaching students how to learn. Language functions to…

Four studies are offered from a Piagetian perspective on providing children with an optimal microcomputer environment. Guidelines stress the importance of flexibility, and a hierarchical software environment. (CL)

Notes that the ways in which spelling has been conceptualized have evolved dramatically over the last few decades. Explores the evolution of this reconceptualization through a discussion of spelling as a system, as a subject of instruction, and as a psychological and linguistic process in writing and reading. Explains how instructional…

A literature-based cognitive developmental approach to learning and instruction in mainstreamed settings is presented. The approach considers children with learning disabilities to be ineffective and inactive learners, and focuses on addressing learning skills for all children and emphasizing mutual support and communication within the classroom.…