Parental death or divorce can have serious effects on children. It is important for adults and teachers to provide support and to be available to listen to the child on an age appropriate level. This paper describes the emotional impact of loss on children both when a marriage is ending and when a parent is seriously ill or is recently deceased.…

This paper focuses on how social studies content and concepts can be explored through literature in which grandparents and grandchildren interact. The paper emphasizes that, through the intergenerational relationship, children can encounter and explore life in general, increasing their understanding of their own portion of the world and of…

The terror and severe stress most children feel after a disaster such as an earthquake or bombing manifest themselves in a number of ways. This book provides a tool for parents and others responsible for children's well-being to prepare for a disaster experience. The book's introductory chapter examines the nature of disasters--natural and…

Intended to help teachers explore the instructional use of computers meant for books and literature, this book describes how to organize classrooms for an online project, how to create a community of readers in the classroom, and how to teach children to talk about books. It also discusses such practical needs as computer equipment, staff…

A study examined how at-risk readers constructed meaning while reading, writing about, and discussing a full-length novel during Transactional Literature Discussions (TLD). Subjects were six fifth-grade students, four males and two females. Students chose the novel and participated in 15 group sessions of 45 minutes over 8 weeks. Scaffolded…

To address the states' growing need for information about student performance in science, the Council of Chief State School Officers initiated the State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS) Science Education Assessment Project. This multistate consortium pooled expertise and resources to apply standards and benchmark documents…

Designed to be used by practicing teachers, students who are learning to become teachers, and faculty members who instruct such students, this manual describes an instructional manipulation for teaching children with mild disabilities that increases opportunities for learning through the addition of extra information. The technique described uses…

A study was conducted to determine if audience-tailored videotapes and the format of follow-up discussions can change audience attitudes. Sixth-grade students in Taiwan were given a survey on their attitudes toward elderly people. Scripts for videotapes were written based on the data obtained from the survey. Children found to have a negative…

One quarter of all American children will live in a single-parent family for at least some portion of their childhood. This guide, organized as a step-by-step process, encourages single parents to reach for excellence in their parenting and to build confidence in their ability to raise healthy, responsible children. The chapters are intended to…

The development of a language ability scale for English as a Second Language in Hong Kong secondary schools is described. The project used a local computer network designed as a database of teacher-designed English language tests. From test items in the database, a series of seven tests was prepared, one for each grade level. Tests for the lowest…

The term "scaffolding" refers to adult behaviors that support and guide children's participation in activities, including speech events, enabling the children to extend the range of what they are able to do without assistance. A study examined how scaffolding behavior in support of expository discourse differed among preschool teachers in…

This report identifies what Iowa teachers say must be done to transform schools comprehensively. Recommendations in the key areas of time, authority and responsibility, evaluation and accountability, and early childhood education, are offered. In regard to these recommendations, three major elements have the greatest leverage for change:…

Two papers on classroom teaching techniques and classroom environment in Botswana are presented. The first paper, "Is Teacher Training Associated with Teachers' Classroom Behavior? A Study of Botswana Junior Secondary School Teachers" by David W. Chapman and Conrad W. Snyder, Jr., investigates the extent to which teaching behaviors…

This study sought to determine the relations between generative teaching and student teachers' social maturity, receptivity to criticism, and ability to incorporate suggestions about their performance into their teaching. Profiles of "more effective" and "less effective" student teachers were compared with respect to generative…

Faculty members' reactions to constructing and evaluating course portfolios were examined, and how that process might be improved was explored as part of an annual evaluation of teaching. Three college departments (sociology, accounting, and dental hygiene and assisting) volunteered to use portfolio review in the 1991-92 school year. In all, 22…