A study analyzed the communicative dynamics occurring during explicit instruction of a grammatical concept (concerning French verbs) taught within the students' Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). Analysis focused on discourse strategies used at four levels of the ZPD. (Contains 48 references.) (Author/MSE)

This article considers mathematics instruction for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who have learning disabilities. Linguistic, cultural, and cognitive influences on students' abilities to learn mathematics are discussed. Potential learning problems and ways to address these problems are identified. (DB)

The case is made that advances in chaos and complexity theories and self-organizing systems have important implications for the field of learning disabilities. Problems with behaviorism are discussed and the properties of self-organizing systems are explained. The concepts of continuous, nonlinear development and motivation and volition are…

Recent attention to the teaching of reading in adult English- as-a-Second-Language courses has prompted us to trace the major shifts in reading pedagogy that have occurred in the Adult Migrant English Program. Reference is made to some key resources and research that have reflected and shaped practice in the teaching of reading. (21 references)…

Two cause indicator models were formulated to link items of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment--Short Form to the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test--Revised. These models were tested with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (506 and 345 children), and a final model was developed. (SLD)

Interset and set-to-total correlations for the California Card Sorting Test were studied for 135 college students and 63 elementary school students. Although subsets were not equivalent, the generally good correlations between subset and total test scores indicated that use of the individual subsets as short forms is justified. (SLD)

Original data and other studies using the Positive Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATP-Q) show that the reliability and norms of the instrument appear stable and that the ATP-Q is inversely associated with negative affective states but unrelated to conditions such as medical condition not accompanied by psychological distress. (SLD)

The effects of performance feedback and social visibility on task performance and on incidental learning of peripheral stimuli were studied with 64 French male students, half high achievers and half low achievers. Both performance and allocation of attention were extremely sensitive to the consistency between students' past and present academic…

Demonstrates that attitude-relevant knowledge can enable biased or objective systematic processing of new information. Subjects (n=172) having a high or low knowledge on AIDS risk prevention evaluated a serial of scenarios estimating the likelihood of contracting AIDS from sexual behavior. Subjects with a considerable knowledge of AIDS engaged in…

Researchers compared the self-reported mental activities of first-year and experienced kindergarten teachers during 10 common teaching episodes. Teachers recorded and later coded their thoughts during the episodes. The three mental deliberations of the beginning teacher as compared to the experienced teacher were judgmental, nonfacilitative, and…

Visual and auditory processing of complex sentences was examined among 8- through 11-year-olds. Findings suggested a U-shaped learning pattern for on-line processing of restrictive relative clauses. Off-line accuracy scores showed different patterns for good and poor comprehenders. Incorrect local attachment strategy use was related to sentence…

Examines the thinking and reasoning skills today's students need, reviewing promising approaches to understanding and improving these skills offered by cognitive psychologists and philosophers, evaluating the contributions of each approach, and suggesting how explanations offered by cognitive psychologists and criteria for evaluating students'…

Analyzes current research on successful distance education programs. Reviews the learning communication process; identifies responsibilities of the deliverer: conduct a learner needs assessment, know how to use the technology, address multiple learning styles, promote interaction, project a friendly image, be a team player, operate from a systems…

Examines those theories of learning that have laid the groundwork for classroom approaches that encourage students to become active learners. Summarizes the National Science Education Standards (NCES) Teaching Standards B. (DDR)

Discusses design principles derived from the socio-cognitive theoretical framework for developing Web-based environments to support the construction of scientific knowledge through situated action. (Author/MM)