Discusses the need for children to become fluent in logical argument and systems dynamics. Examines the "create an embedded environment and support classroom teachers with visiting experts" strategy in music and technology education. Describes the distinction between meaningless activities with computers and computer literacy. (AEF)

Explores how ideas about early learning have developed over time and proposes a new pedagogical view that goes beyond the deprivation model. Identifies three antinomies that have emerged as ideas about early learning. Concludes that children must be accepted as members and participants in the culture and be given opportunities to make and remake…

This study reports behavioral and cognitive stability and change in 76 children with autistic spectrum disorders, evaluated at ages 7 and 11. Verbal IQ, performance IQ, severity of autistic characteristics, and social characteristics were analyzed. The study found that IQ and more severe expression of autistic symptoms were very stable. (CR)

Reconceptualizes a cognitive apprenticeship method to provide foreign language teachers in charge of beginning language levels with the knowledge necessary to acquire the strategies of reciprocal teaching. The article gives teachers an example of a set of lesson plans that embeds the teaching of prerequisite declarative and procedural knowledge…

Maintains that diagnosis, explanation, and tutoring, the functions of an interactive learning environment, are collaborative processes. Examines how human-computer interaction can be improved using a distributed cognition framework. Discusses situational and distributed knowledge theories and provides a model on how they can be used to redesign…

Examined the reactions of 201 elementary school children to direct and indirect help and the moderating effects of grade, understanding of personality, and sex on children's reaction to aid. Results indicated that children high in the understanding of consistency of personality were more autonomous in the indirect than the direct help condition.…

Examined the types of play mothers introduce in direct response to their toddlers' play and the actual maternal play behaviors. Findings suggested that mothers tend to play with their toddlers in ways that might promote their children's development and that mothers with more knowledge about play development provide their children with…

The practice of cognitive referencing to determine the presence of a specific language impairment (SLI) and eligibility for services is questioned by a study which compared the variability of the IQ scores of children with specific language impairment over time. The study found high IQ variability, suggesting that IQs reflect current abilities…

Assessed the role of attention processes as mediators between family environment and school readiness, analyzing data from 1,002 children and their families participating in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care. Found that sustained attention partially accounted for the link between family environment and achievement and language outcomes.…

Considers a study conducted on the cognitive development opportunities afforded young North American Asian children within the Reggio Emilia educational approach, while reflecting on the perceptions of Asian immigrant parents toward this approach. Highlights effective strategies and modifications that have addressed the concerns raised by critics.…

Examined 4-year-olds for effects on IQ of prenatal cocaine exposure, exposure to other substances, risk factors, and neonatal medical problems. Found that maternal verbal IQ and low environmental risk predicted child IQ. Cocaine exposure negatively predicted children's overall IQ and verbal reasoning scores for boys only. Maternal harsh…

This article emphasizes the importance of providing appropriate services to meet the needs of individual gifted students and the need to first diagnose the level of giftedness to administer the right "therapeutic dose." A chart is provided that defines levels of intellectual giftedness by IQ ranges and by prevalence. (Contains 5…

Investigates comprehension of metaphoric compounds. The study asked children and adults to identify referents of various types of these compounds. Findings reveal that 5-year-olds outperformed 3-year-olds but performed significantly less well than adults and that 3-year-olds did not generally interpret the compounds literally. (37 references)…

Discusses interviews of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students' conducted to assess their reactions to a tutorial project for improving cognitive performance in content courses through the use of talk and writing as learning tools. The study concludes that ESL learners should be given opportunities to use their own language resources to…

Three studies used interspecies adoption stories to examine children's understanding of the role of birth in determining animal properties and species identity. Found that most 4- to 7-year olds could reliably judge that babies would be of the same species as birth parents, but were unable to attribute properties of adoptive parents. (Author/KB)