The results from four early intervention evaluation studies are described in relationship to their impact on parent-child interaction. Intervention effects on child development were unlikely to occur unless mothers modified their style of interacting. Only their level of responsiveness was associated with positive developmental outcomes.…

This study surveyed the effects of cable television on Israeli parents' mediation of their childrens' viewing. Results indicate the introduction of cable television changed strategies of parental control and mediation and parents' assessment of television's influence on children. Active parental mediation was closely related to the attribution of…

Explores differences in adolescents' styles of responding to poetry and relates these differences to contrasts in the way students narrate stories of personal experience. Finds contrasts between working-class and middle-class students in styles of responding to poetry which show parallels with their contrasting styles of narrating stories of…

An indepth survey of teachers conducted by the Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development found that teachers were furious about professional development as they knew it. They found it too theoretical--essentially out of touch with everyday classroom life. Practicing teachers wanted expert assistance with specific problems, not…

The food refusal of a 6-year-old girl with autism and destructive behavior was treated using stimulus fading, reinforcement, and escape extinction. Intake increased, and compliance with prompting procedures remained relatively stable despite the increased consumption requirement. (Author/CR)

Discusses how 34 Finnish teachers participating in a teacher-development program view efforts to renew classroom practices--especially alterations of teacher/student power relations. Despite intensive national and institution-level initiatives, teachers tend to retain traditional classroom practices, even when slowly shifting beliefs to a…

Describes research projects in four experimental schools in Osijek, Croatia, that were interrupted by war. Pilot projects featured lectureless classes, independent study, increases in learning activities, and alterations in school surroundings. In all the experimental schools, significant changes occurred, but academic achievement results were…

Gender differences in answers to constructed-response reading items from a state assessment program were studied with four raters rating approximately 500 papers at two grade levels. Results indicate that number of words written and number of unrelated responses show significant gender differences and are related to holistic scores. (SLD)

Describes how a middle school English/language arts teacher had students paint in watercolors their responses to the novel the class was reading. Describes how this approach signficantly improved the rate and quality of student participation, and brought out new voices and fresh readings of the text. (SR)

Examines individual literary-response styles of several first- or second-grade children by analyzing their talk about books. Finds five types of responses (analytical, intertextual, personalizing, transparent, and performative responses). Discusses the discernible differences and unique perspectives in at least some children's individual literary…

Presents a case study chronicling the written, oral, and fine art responses of four transitional readers and writers (second- and third-grade students) to the picture books of Patricia Polacco and Gerald McDermott. Discusses their responses in three categories: descriptive responses, interpretive responses, and thematic trends. (SR)

Created a developmental scale for the North Carolina End-of-Grade Mathematics Tests using a subset of identical test forms administered to adjacent grade levels with Thurstone scaling and Item Response Theory methods. Discusses differences in patterns produced. (Author/SLD)

Reviews research focusing on problem-solving deficits and their relationship to suicidal behavior and considers some of the methodological problems that arise. Discusses findings in terms of active versus passive problem solving, state or trait factors, and the psychological processes underlying problem solving. (Author/JDM)

Classroom observation evokes feelings of fear and vulnerability, but the method can have developmental value for faculty. Visits by colleagues from other disciplines and supportive relationships with peer coaches can help improve teaching techniques and teacher quality. (SK)

This qualitative study of children's narratives examined how 8- to 14-year olds experienced removal from parents and placement into foster care. Issue-focused analysis indicated that the children's narratives portray a progression of traumatizing events ensuing from the placement processes. The narrative from a well-handled placement suggests…