Self-expression is a key concept for sociological studies on childhood since it is the cue for children's self-socialization and agency. Hence promoting children's agency and social participation requires their self-expression to be facilitated in their interaction with adults. The analysis in this article of a set of interactions in Italian…

The purpose of this study was to examine and describe children's music improvisations and the interactions that transpired within their four-person groups during regular weekly music classes as they planned and performed music improvisations in response to three different prompts: a poem, a painting, and a musical composition. Participants were…

Previous research has shown that a computer program may improve performers' abilities to express emotions through their performance. Yet, performers seem reluctant to embrace this novel technology. In this study we explored possible reasons for these negative impressions. Eighty guitarists performed a piece of music to express various emotions,…

Children naturally seek and conduct exciting forms of play that involve a risk of physical injury (risky play). Even though several prior studies give descriptions of risky play, none of them deeply explore children's expressions of how they experience different kinds of risky play. This study aims to do that. The results from video observations…

Presentation of self (via Goffman) is becoming increasingly popular as a means for explaining differences in meaning and activity of online participation. This article argues that self-presentation can be split into performances, which take place in synchronous "situations," and artifacts, which take place in asynchronous "exhibitions." Goffman's…

The purpose of this paper is to identify the developmental stages and feelings that children are portraying in their artwork. Included in the paper the writer gives examples of the different stages of scribbling and an activity for teachers and parents to do with the child. The results of the activities will give insight into a child's feelings…

Purpose: This article aims to explore how self-efficacy is related to academic research activities and how intra-culturally relevant factors may play a role in self-efficacy in the context of higher education in Beijing. In particular, relationships of self-efficacy for research with research productivity and idiocentrism-allocentrism are to be…

Radical puppets are puppets with a social message. Radical puppets encourage creative ideas that lead toward understanding global and environmental aspects of society through the "art of the puppet," a phrase coined by American puppeteer Bill Baird (1965). There is a blending of performance and visual art in puppetry. Through radical…

Edith Betts (1983) presented an Amy Morris Homans lecture entitled "Keepers of the Crown Jewels." During her lecture, Betts told a story of a queen who had some beautiful crown jewels. There were four that were particularly precious to her--a ruby, a pearl, a sapphire, and an emerald. As the story evolved, the queen noticed that after she left the…

Business students should understand the relevance of professional attire as an indication of conformity. Of equal importance is the recognition that some companies have loosened their dress codes to a more flexible policy to recruit young talent. "Ugly Betty" could serve as a teaching tool to initiate the dialogue on conformity in a light-hearted,…

This paper describes how adolescent students responded to a poetry workshop in an English classroom where the content was derived from their knowledge from their various life experiences and understanding of world events. Informed by theories of New Literacy Studies, ethnographic methods of participant-observation were used to document an eighth…

Every once in a while, stray fragments from art or popular culture spark one's imaginations and trigger an idea for developing an art curriculum project. In this article, the authors begin with the interior world of extraterrestrial aliens within the Grand Central Station locker from "Men in Black II," and led eventually to the authors' students…

Spiritual well-being forms an important dimension of children's lives globally. They are vulnerable to a range of difficulties as they grow and develop. Recently there has been a strong awareness that spirituality not only enables their healing but is critical to spiritual transformation. This paper briefly explores children's spirituality and…

This is the first of two articles which will explore how written personal stories promote creativity, competence, belonging, self-expression, and a sense of purpose among students who, for a variety of reasons, have been labeled "at risk" or "delinquent." They present scenarios of students, teachers, elders, and others working together and samples…

Research has shown that a solid visual arts program provided to students throughout the K-12 years increases academic achievement, increases self-confidence and self-concept and provides opportunities for students to tap all their intelligences. However, recent budget cuts and the high stake testing on Mathematics and English Language arts at all…