This study investigated preservice elementary teacher reasoning ability levels, science anxiety levels, and content achievement in a large midwestern university. Pretest and posttest measures were taken on three dependent variables: (1) reasoning ability (cognitive development); (2) science anxiety; and (3) science content achievement. In…

This digest addresses cognitive learning with respect to outside-the-classroom instruction at the elementary school level. It notes that affective, not cognitive, learning has traditionally been the primary objective of field instruction at all K-12 levels. Therefore, most educational research in field instruction has been mainly non-cognitive in…

Using examples from children drawing in a year one classroom, this article examines firstly, how drawing operates as a unique mental tool, and secondly, the role of drawing in the construction and development of knowledge. Young children utilize prior knowledge and experience to negotiate and construct meaning through their interactions with…

Although much has been said about the influence of reading upon writing, little information is available concerning the effect of writing practice upon reading comprehension. During one experimental study, college freshmen students in a remedial reading course wrote in the expressive mode for ten minutes a day. This simple act of writing, without…

This publication contains most of the papers (19) presented at the 11th conference of the Australian Science Education Research Association. Papers are grouped into those reflecting the influence of contemporary movements in cognitive psychology; those concerned primarily with studying science teaching practices; those concerned with the…

The design of the Phasing in Career Education Systematically (PICES) project was based on two data centered systems, sequencing and needs assessment. Four Texas independent school districts participated in the project which directly involved 986 students, 69 teachers, and 27 administrators. Some of the major activities conducted in each district…

The purposes of this study were to investigate: (1) effectiveness of three small group teaching methods on the acquisition and retention of seriation abilities; (2) transfer of seriation abilities using the three treatments; and (3) relationship between visual and nonvisual seriation abilities. One hundred twenty first grade Canadian students were…

This autobiographical essay depicts a process of development through which an elementary school teacher becomes both expert and professional. With an MA in Medieval History and no teacher education coursework, the writer adopts a personalistic, "unorthodox traditional" approach to instruction. Exposure to controversy among…

This study investigated the effects of certain types of science experiences ("hands-on" versus "non-hands-on") on the development of selected cognitive abilities as inferred by performance on Piagetian-type tasks. Thirty-six students from first, third, and fifth grades were randomly chosen as subjects. Eighteen of the students from each grade…

AN INQUIRY (SPECIFIC DISCOVERY) APPROACH TO LEARNING WAS SUBJECTED TO A RIGOROUS TEST AND EVALUATION PROGRAM, INVOLVING ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. STUDENTS IN THE FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH GRADES SERVED AS SUBJECTS. EVALUATIVE CRITERIA WERE (1) SCIENCE CONCEPT ACHIEVEMENT, (2) DIVERGENT THINKING OR CREATIVITY, AND (3)…

This study investigated the teaching procedures of two groups of science teachers at the elementary school level. One group had received instruction in the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) methods which included the inquiry-discovery approach. The second group had recieved no instruction in any "new" approach. SCIS-educated…

Directed to teachers of the mentally retarded, the text emphasizes clinical teaching which is based on testing for and identifying each child's weaknesses and strengths, and then formulating an educational program. Aspects covered include the following: the status of professional awareness in the education of the mentally retarded, the nature of…

Elementary school students can learn to write creatively if the teacher offers stimulation through informative and enriching experiences and provides daily opportunities for writing experiences. Enrichment can involve books, field trips, radio, television, guest speakers, maps, and sense experiences--anything that broadens the knowledge of the…

Presented is the Infant Stimulation Curriculum (developed by the Developmentally Delayed Infant Outreach Project) for parents and teachers to use with children who are developmentally between birth and 36 months of age. Published in a card format at a sixth grade readability level, the curriculum includes introductory cards providing information…

The aim of this report was to provide teachers of preschool and early elementary school children with a brief summary of current psychological research and theory concerned with the development of cognitive skills in young children. Psychological research often provides a basis for procedures teachers use in the classroom. Each chapter of the…