Developed a procedure for defining achievement levels on continuous scales using aspects of Guttman scaling (L. Guttman, 1950) and Item Response Theory. Using data from high school mathematics tests for about 6,000 students, found the new procedure to have higher reliability, higher classification consistency, and lower classification error than…

Describes the Emotion Map project, a project for high school students in a school for the performing arts. The mural-sized "map" allowed students to represent their feelings and helped them deal with the intense competition and pressures of their academic and performing lives. (SLD)

Describes complex issues involved in helping impulsive-aggressive youth who are devoid of emotional intelligence. Reviews anatomy of impulsivity and the irrational beliefs used as defense mechanisms by impulsive-aggressive students. Discusses two alternative intervention strategies, Life Space Crisis Intervention techniques and the Self Control…

Explores the participation in reading-writing workshops of students who consider reading to be an important part of their lives. Finds students who are engaged readers of fiction bring a set of expectations that differ from their teachers' and from students who do not read regularly for pleasure. (NH)

Argues that instructional activities in teacher education programs can assist preservice teachers in identifying their beliefs. Identifies eight beliefs preservice teachers formulated about reading and literature following one part of a language arts education course in which they designed literature-based learning units. (NH)

Describes a modified method of reader-response used as a core activity in a literature classroom in which students write a short written response at the beginning of every class to the reading due that day. Describes the procedure, its relationship to effective writing, and its benefits, including reading more critically, writing more effectively,…

Examines non-goal oriented transactions with texts to investigate the information encounter in the context of daily living. Analyzes interview responses that illuminate two aspects of reading for pleasure: how readers choose these books; and books that have made a significant difference in readers' lives. Concludes with five themes emerging from…

Speeded performance on simple mental addition problems of 6- and 7-year-olds with and without mild mental retardation was modeled from a person perspective and an item perspective, both inferred from Siegler's work. Models from item response theory were used to test hypotheses. Found that all children follow same developmental path in acquiring…

Explored use of punitive force by adults with low perceived power in teaching interactions. Found that those women with low perceived power were more likely than the others to use high levels of punitive force and show elevated levels of autonomic arousal when given ambiguous control, and more likely to attribute intentionality to children whose…

Examined relation of early attachment relationships and preschoolers' emotion regulation. Found that preschoolers who ignored younger siblings' distress were more likely to experience personal distress and use avoidant coping strategies. Preschoolers with insecure-resistant infant-mother attachment at 1 year were more likely to seek comfort from…

Studied the interpersonal interactions during group work by children designated by their peers as bullies, victims, and bystanders. Results for 117 Italian elementary school students suggest that cooperative group work had an impact on the expression of some emotions, although the tendency of victims to deny their feelings in comparison to the…

Investigated cultural differences in the social and relationship aspects of sharing emotions. Indian, immigrant Indian and English adolescents recalled various emotional episodes and discussed the sharing of these experiences. Each emotion had a unique sharing pattern. Cross-cultural differences in sharing highlighted the greater importance and…

The case-based research discussed in this article describes the variety of strategies mothers and young children spontaneously used to negotiate the complexities of foster care visits. Mothers and children displayed a variety of responses to visits, particularly separating at the end of visits. (Author)

Suggests ways in which drama can be used to: explore issues that often give rise to aggression or violence; give space to articulate and respond to emotions; model and practice non-violent response to aggression; consider the consequences of one's actions; empower children to stand up to bullying; and channel energy into performance. (TJQ)

In three sixth-grade classrooms, students' independent writing activities and interviews were analyzed to identify affective links to prior experience that were used in students' knowledge construction efforts. Learner-centered teacher strategies related to classroom dialogue and activity choice can increase affective/emotional affordances in the…