This book contains a guided exploration of a special place in nature. Although geared towards young adults (ages 12-17), the book may also be appropriate for older children (ages 9-11), and adults. During a series of five visits, short multi-ethnic stories with matching activities help the reader to discover the area's uniqueness and beauty by…

This study explored the extent and nature of the literacy artifacts, references, and events in the homes of three preschool children with Down Syndrome. Analyses were based on observations and tape recordings taken during home visits. Major conclusions included: (1) the homes of the preschoolers were print rich, and literacy references and events…

Microteaching, or peer teaching, is an activity that requires science methods students to plan, teach, and evaluate a particular lesson. The peer teaching activity, although obviously similar to teaching a lesson in a traditional classroom, enables the methods students to teach to a small group of their peers, thus easily receiving constructive…

Issues and elements of case study research are explored and illustrated with the example of a case study of a kindergarten in a suburb of Tokyo (Japan). Case study research is a type of qualitative research that concentrates on a single unit or entity, with boundaries established by the researcher. The case is an example drawn from a larger class,…

This book is intended for early childhood educators, student teachers, practicing teachers, and parents who are interested in improving observation and assessment processes for children from infancy through the elementary school years. The book covers the history, philosophy, and practice of observing, recording, and analyzing children's behavior.…

This study explored the acculturation experiences of new immigrants in their cultural transformation from Vietnamese to Vietnamese American. Three objectives guided the research effort: (1) to investigate the cultural transformation of new immigrants through an ethnographic study of a Vietnamese Boy Scout troop; (2) to discover how the beliefs and…

This book provides a set of principles and analytical methods that are based on research findings and are designed to be adapted to different assessment scenarios, thus enabling instructors to construct their own assessment methods. Part 1 covers the underlying principles of assessment, examining its purposes, assessment criteria, and the nature…

Little has been researched about the professional artist's preferred style of thinking, his/her manner of acquiring and utilizing knowledge, and how it affects the learning process. This investigation used a revised method of naturalistic inquiry for the purpose of developing a research method that was responsive to the uniqueness of artistic…

The purpose of this paper is to describe current practices in various states used to identify linguistically different students, provide a review of literature regarding recommended practices, and offer alternative practices for identifying linguistically different students. The paper provides an information base regarding current identification…

This descriptive study looked at the provision of differentiated language arts instruction for gifted students by means of whole language instruction approaches in regular classes. Two classrooms in each of two elementary schools were identified as exemplary whole language classrooms and each contained several students identified for school gifted…

This case study describes the separation distress experienced by Mei Mei, a 2-year-old Chinese-American female toddler at a midwestern university laboratory preschool. The toddler, who could not speak English, was undergoing the first substantial separation from her parents. The toddler was observed over a 9-week period, during which behaviors…

There are differences in how preservice, novice, and expert teachers view effective teaching. This study traced conceptual changes among preservice teachers at different points in their preparation; investigated whether there were differences in perceptions of students in the elementary and secondary programs; and examined how second and fourth…

The purpose of this two-year study was to document and examine changes in four teachers' beliefs and practices while implementing National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) mathematics standards. Qualitative research methodology was used to develop multiple case studies, which were analyzed individually and across cases. Data came from…

The effectiveness of the planning process at the Medical Center Campus of Miami-Dade Community College was evaluated, addressing how and to what extent campus personnel perceived the planning process as guiding decisions, resource allocations, and activities to realize the strategic outcomes. The qualitative method of naturalistic inquiry,…

Industrial/Organizational (I/O) psychology emphasizes the ways in which basic psychological science plays out in work and organizational life and is closely related to other disciplines. As such, it has a unique potential to help undergraduates think integratively. I/O psychologists deal with such topics as the role of tests in a diverse society,…