As educators introduce new technology into a district, school, or classroom, it is important to take advantage of children's natural ability, enthusiasm, and willingness to master new skills. Certain activities such as journal writing, picture-digitizing projects, and designated student experts help place the power of technology squarely in…

Two studies investigated developmental changes, and inter-linguistic and inter-individual variations, in the expansion and composition of young French children's early lexicons. Results indicated that lexical productivity strongly increased with age, whereas lexical diversity showed little developmental progression. Inter-individual variability in…

A review of the literature and research on the academic and social self-concepts of gifted adolescents reveals the importance of considering the unique talents of the individual rather than considering gifted students as a homogeneous group. Implications of the research for encouraging positive self-concepts in these students are drawn. (Author/DB)

Aims to delimit the possible individual differences in feelings of difficulty experienced in relation to mathematics. Shows that feelings of difficulty form their own system, mainly influenced by performance and cognitive ability; also, gender interacts with personal and task characteristics. Discusses educational implications of these results.…

Argues that the individualistic-collectivistic dichotomy results in mislabeling both cultures and individuals. Discusses ways in which individualistic concerns with independence and collectivistic concerns with interdependence coexist in Western and non-Western cultures. Outlines a theoretical framework explaining the coexistence of diverse social…

Research in temperament attempts to explain the normal range of individual differences in adjusting to stimuli, activities, and persons in the environment. Mini-series reviews temperament constructs and relates them to development of children's interpersonal and academic difficulties. They show how understanding temperamental roots of…

Sex differences are investigated in the use of sexual aggression in the dating relationships of single adult heterosexuals (N=380 males, 241 females; mean age 22.5). This study replicates and extends previous work by simultaneously testing the predictive ability of variables from three domains: social-environment, relational-environment, and…

A middle-school teacher humorously observes seven other intelligences of students: random thinking; virtual memory void (erasing entire sections of personal memory); antigravity (balancing on two chair legs); intravacancy (achieving perfect, effortless aplomb); inter-Origami (intricate note-folding); stealth-kinesthetic (peashooting spitballs…

Distressed at student disregard of clearly communicated rules and regulations, a Huntington Beach (California) high school principal realized the delivery system was not personalized enough. Having administrators visit each English class to explain reasons behind the rules improved the situation. Also, a new block schedule improved teacher-student…

Studied correlates of academic performance across mathematics, science, reading, and writing for 6,883 Canadian students in grade 6 in 148 schools (the New Brunswick School Climate Study). Results show that students were differentially successful in different subject areas, that schools were differentially successful in different subject areas,…

Discusses the consequences of tracking students, how one English teacher moved to heterogeneous grouping, and multiple intelligences and tracking. Asks why educators continue to track students when Howard Gardner has shown that there are at least seven distinct ways that humans come to know and learn. (RS)

Examined the personal, situational, and contextual correlates of coping in 315 adolescents. Found that adolescents who used more approach-coping responses were older, more active, and appraised stressful events as controllable and as challenges, whereas adolescents who used more avoidance coping were easily distressed, had more chronic stressors,…

Mothers of 6 cohorts of infants at ages 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months were interviewed to determine their children's responses to potentially stressful daily events. Found older infants and temperamentally more difficult infants experienced more events and reacted with distress to a greater proportion of the events than did younger infants and…

Examined task factors, cognitive processes, and individual differences as determinants of performance in 188 adults locating a position on a topographical map. Both spatial visualization ability and a visual learning style were found to be effective predictors of performance. A form of verbal strategy training produced significantly improved…

The incidence and causes of cheating were studied through a questionnaire completed by 943 English college students. Reported cheating was widespread, more common among men and less able students, and more common in science and technology students. Student motivation appears to be a major factor in explaining the differences. (SLD)