Describes a field sketch mapping project conducted with a sixth-grade class. The project involved selecting appropriate sites around the school to map, organizing the students, and instructing them about measuring distances and drawing maps. Illustrations include assignments and examples of students' work. (MJP)

Examines determinants of cognitive achievement in rural Pakistan, controlling for cognitive ability, family background, various school quality measures, and educational attainment. Estimates indicate substantial variation in school effectiveness. Investments that improve teacher quality and increase student exposure to teachers are likely to have…

Suggests that children who have experienced personal autonomy sufficient to develop a sense of responsibility for the consequences of their actions tend to experience less stress and receive more affectionate treatment from their mothers. Briefly summarizes previous research that supports these findings. (MJP)

Argues that teachers of English as a Second Language should be cautious in using critical thinking pedagogies in the classroom. Notes that critical thinking is a social practice attracting criticism for being exclusive and that skills related to critical thinking are culturally based and do not seem to transfer beyond a narrow instructional…

Asserts that using children's literature to present life stories can reinforce young children's understanding of life span and help them better understand how goals formed in childhood may help determine an individual's future. Briefly reviews and recommends 15 children's books focused on life stories and decision making. (MJP)

A study of reading, writing, spoken and signed language, speech perception and production, and cognition of 100 profoundly hearing-impaired students in oral and mainstream high school programs suggests that hearing-impaired students have much higher potential for literacy than previously reported, and that the primary predictor is English-language…

Used observations and home visits to examine sex differences in language ability of 54 disadvantaged children at risk for poor language outcomes. Found that language difficulties increased over time, boys were at a constant disadvantage to girls in language development, and sex difference in language ability appeared even when families had similar…

An analysis of a 10-minute episode in which 7-year-old students (n=3) engage in collaborative small group activity is presented to explore the relationship between individual learning and group development. Students learned as they interactively constituted situations for justification or validation, yielding an institutionalized solution method.…

Recent empirical research has identified significant advantages for interactive video instruction over traditional teaching methods in "soft skill" (humanities and social sciences) areas, including cognitive achievement, transfer of learning to performance, learning motivation, student achievement across uncontrolled student characteristics, user…

Examines the potential role for Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) when teaching courses as functions, calculus, and linear algebra to students with low prerequisite algebra skills. A study reports the rationale, planning, and implementation of a functions course integrating Maple CAS into instruction. (MDH)

Describes five skills underpinning the understanding of geometry for primary and lower secondary mathematics students. Skill categories identified include (1) visual; (2) verbal; (3) drawing; (4) logical; and (5) application. Gives examples of skills appropriate for Van Hiele levels 1-3. (MDH)

High ability, average, and learning-disabled children in grades 4 and 7 were assessed on achievement, ability, perceived competence in cognitive ability, self-concept, and locus of control. Results indicated significant group differences on achievement and affective measures which were relatively stable and unaffected by cognitive strategies…

In recent decades, Quebec has been continuously examining its educational values, addressing in particular the effectiveness of traditional educational methods and curricula, role of institutional culture in academic success, and value placed on ethnic integration. Priority should be given to cognitive development and systematic evaluation but…

Presents the conclusion of chapter 6 ("The Mental Development of Younger Schoolchildren in the Process of Learning Activity") from V. V. Davydov's "Problems of Developmental Teaching." Examines experimental teaching methods for elementary art education. Reviews research on effects of Davydov's developmental teaching, concluding…

Discussion of spatial skills focuses on a quasi-experimental field study that was designed to test the possibility that elementary and secondary school library users' success in stack searches could be related to a particular spatial skill, i.e., the ability to solve large-scale mental-rotation and perspective-taking problems. (13 references) (LRW)