A gifted high school student recounts her childhood as a gifted child whose successes came too easily and without challenge, resulting in the development of poor work habits, low grades, and underachievement. She urges educators to stress personal excellence, help students overcome their fears of both study and possible failure, and foster a love…

A framework is presented for analyzing discourse during parent-child interaction about moral matters, using speech genres and registers. This analysis considers social, cultural, and historical influences on moral development and locates the origins of moral sensibilities and differences in moral functioning in the discourse parents and children…

The matter of gender differences that influence adolescent development is considered by means of an empirical investigation. Implications of the results are discussed for parents, teachers and special services professionals. (Author)

Discusses the origins and context of adolescence as a cultural phenomenon and illustrates how rites of passage can nurture healthy developmental changes in adolescents. Describes and evaluates the application of a rite of passage during a backpacking experience that was designed to usher teens from adolescence to adulthood in a Christian context.…

Dr. Tom Smith, 1996 recipient of the Kurt Hahn Award, discusses life experiences that made him aware of the wilderness beyond and within, illuminated the connectedness of all things, and fueled his efforts to guide others to understand these important lessons. He questions whether outdoor education is reaching its full potential in teaching about…

Explores people's choice to avidly pursue one particular pole at the exclusion of its polar opposite or to shift their focus thoughtfully between poles. Claims that polarities need to be distinguished from either/or choices so that clients can maximize positive outcomes. Describes structure and flow of polarities and counseling interventions. (RJM)

Examines the issues surrounding counseling students' participation in personal growth groups and describes a model that maximizes student's experiential participation while safeguarding their right to privacy and informed consent. Addresses important ethical issues that arise when an instructor is also a group leader, and other issues of concern.…

Draws upon a longitudinal research project that focused on learning career transformations. Explains that the study initially involved Year 11 students (n=79) from secondary schools in England. Focuses specifically on the case of student Amanda Ball, considering the implications for understanding learning. Includes references. (CMK)

Discusses how the book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (Stephen Covey), can be used in the elementary school to teach character education using an informal approach in a school-wide effort. Relates the seven habits to the book, "Swimmy" (Leo Lioni). Includes a trade books list and the habit(s) each address. (CMK)

This interview with a 17-year-old boy with attention deficit disorder-inattentive type and his mother, an early childhood educator and administrator, describes the boy's symptoms, diagnosis, present difficulties, effects of medication, the decision to use medication, the probable neurobiological basis for the condition, and the position of the…

Discusses two steps, focusing on improvisation, that teachers can follow in planning music lessons. Addresses how to include improvisation in the general music classroom by focusing on two different age groups: (1) kindergarten through grade three; and (3) grades four to six. (CMK)

Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine has added modules on developmental screening to the second-year medical curriculum, teaching students to specialize their basic interviewing and physical assessment skills by considering the patient's developmental stage as well as age-specific risks, issues, and concerns. (MSE)

The case of Mary Ellen, whose maltreatment as a child began the organized response to child abuse in the United States, is reviewed. The paper emphasizes Mary Ellen's rescue from her stepmother, her life after intervention, and her meaningful and productive life as a wife and mother. (JDD)

Verbal think-aloud protocols were collected from 60 subjects in 3 age groups ranging from 25 through 81 years. Only 5 percent of the responses were considered wise when rated on the criteria of rich factual and procedural knowledge, lifespan contextualism, relativism, and the recognition and management of uncertainty. Wise responses were equally…

The child's psychosocial and physiological development are discussed in terms of a limiting environment and program expectations. Some factors to consider are (1) heredity and heritage; (2) experience; (3) maturation; (4) social transmission; and (5) equilibration. Sensitive educators must prepare the environment for the child, not for the…