Sixty-two very low-birthweight children were evaluated at five years of age on cognitive abilities and visual motor integration. The subjects, enrolled in regular classrooms, scored lower than controls on measures of visual perceptual/visual motor function and had more problems including attending to tasks, following directions, and passivity.…

Provides an overview of basic and applied studies for which primates are appropriate subjects. Summarizes the advantages, limitations, and constraints of using nonhuman primates in research. (RT)

After describing the pros and cons of reduced class size, this article evaluates the effectiveness of a pilot project sponsored by the Indiana Department of Education to reduce the size of its primary grade classes. Methodology and results are presented and discussed. (JL)

When kindergarten, second grade, fourth grade, and college students listened to stories and were asked to predict and explain the story character's behavioral or emotional reaction to a new event, the use of personality attributions to predict and explain future reactions increased with age. (RH)

Many teachers have negative attitudes towards mainstreaming handicapped students. This study examines an intervention teaching method and teachers' attitudes. Results indicate that regardless of treatment, student teachers' attitudes will change in the direction of their classroom teachers' attitude. (JS)

Nine second-grade children with moderate to severe mental retardation were grouped with 27 nonhandicapped peers in a leisure activity which included gallery viewing of visual art and studio opportunities to manipulate art materials. Handicapped participants' social behaviors and interactions were analyzed, and attitudes of nonhandicapped peers…

Parents of 31 developmentally delayed children (ages 1-27 months) received training to assess their children's developmental status. No initial differences existed between parent and professional scores in the motor, social, or language domains. Differences in the self-help domain disappeared after 4 months and in the cognitive domain after 12…

Research on the peer relationship problems of learning disabled (LD) children is summarized, highlighting methodological shortcomings and drawing implications for social intervention. Noted are tendencies of LD children to be frequently off task, to have more negative interactions with teachers and peers, and to be conversationally less assertive.…

A two-year study of students' and physicians' rejecting behaviors during medical interviews found that participation in a workshop on supporting behaviors resulted in a long-term decrease in or abolishment of those behaviors. (MSE)

Describes some of the characteristics of amphibians. Contains teaching activities ranging from a "frog sing-along" to lessons on amphibian adaptations, and night hikes to identify frog calls. Includes reproducible handouts to be used with the activities, and a quiz. (TW)

Examination of 380 married men and women from 50 to 95 years old who have at least one child demonstrates that women have larger networks and receive support from multiple sources, whereas men tend to rely on their spouses exclusively. For both sexes, the quality of support was more important than the quantity. (Author/BJV)

Research on the cognitive development of play skills in young handicapped children is reviewed, focusing on two Piagetian styles of play--sensorimotor (exploratory) and symbolic (pretend and dramatic). The review emphasizes developmental patterns, areas of deficit, and implications for intervention in various handicapped groups. (Author/JDD)

Longitudinal study examined effect of children's gender on tendencies of mothers to use specific antecedents in ascribing causal explanations for their children's sixth grade mathematics performance. Path analyses showed that, for both mothers of boys and mothers of girls, maternal perceptions of child performance were associated with…

Formative evaluation of teaching is discussed, and ways of obtaining diagnostic feedback that will lead to improved teaching in large lecture classes are examined. A Teacher Behaviors Inventory is included. (MLW)

Discusses the need for evaluating the efficiency of early childhood education programs. Presents a model of educational productivity that specifies nine chief factors which require optimization to increase affective, behavioral, and cognitive learning. (Author/RWB)