Interviewed young adults with Asperger Syndrome and their parents to examine the experience of growing up with the syndrome. Found that many were excluded educationally or socially, and although they "looked and talked normally," they never seemed to "fit in." Findings suggest need for greater knowledge of Asperger Syndrome among preschool…

All educational thinking springs from three ancient theories: education should provide skills to succeed in society; education should stimulate the search for truth through academic excellence; and education should give students opportunities to develop their potential. But these ideas are incompatible, and mixing them together has created a…

Compares early childhood classrooms in Italy and the United States. Concludes that art educators must create environments that support children's aesthetic and artistic development, incorporate aspects from the world into the life of classrooms, and critically examine classroom learning spaces. (DAJ)

Examined children's mathematical competencies between ages 7 and 9. Found no differences in developmental rate between children with math difficulties only (MD), math and reading difficulties (MD-RD), reading difficulties only (RD), and normal math/reading achievement (NA). Found that at end of Grade 3, MD group performed better than MD-RD group…

Presents a case study action research project that considers how purposeful emphasis on emotional awareness could potentially influence the feelings of self-confidence and empowerment, which are two demonstrations of emotional growth. Suggests that a significant factor in promoting the emotional development of students is the genuine interest of…

Reviews theories of teacher education and describes a model of practice teaching designed to facilitate teachers' reflection on their experiences. Suggests that this reflective practice allows teachers to understand collaborative teaching and represents an opportunity for professional liberation and development. Describes experiences from…

Reviews volume on social contexts' influence on individual adolescent development. Describes book's four sections: (1) pathways in adolescence and processes that enhance or inhibit developmental continuity; (2) how social contexts specifically affect African American adolescents; (3) effects of interrelations among contexts; and (4) intervention…

Used heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) assessed at 33 to 35 weeks gestational age to predict developmental outcome at 3 years for very low birth weight infants. Found that RSA measures predicted developmental outcome beyond effects of birth weight, medical risk, and socioeconomic status. For infants < 1,000 grams, RSA maturation…

Examines two prominent positions in the epistemological foundations of psychology--Piaget's causal explanatory claims and Vygotsky's interpretive understanding; contends that they need to be placed in their wider philosophical contexts. Argues that the danger of causally explaining cultural practices through which human beings construct and…

Two studies examined children's and adolescents' attitudes toward aggression. Found that boys viewed physical aggression as more hurtful than social aggression and girls rated social aggression as more hurtful. Girls rated an aggressor as more angry than did boys. Middle and high school participants viewed social aggression as indicating more…

Discusses effects of acculturation on American Indian youth in terms of bicultural competence and identity development. The narrative or life-story of a Cherokee elder who is both mainstream physician and traditional medicine man elaborates on the traditional Indian approach to "learning the Medicine," and is divided according to five…

Conducted an exploratory qualitative study with three focus groups to investigate views of dependency in the therapeutic relationship. Evidence suggests a degree of ambivalence and discomfort among the participants regarding dependency issues. Participants' concern relating to issues of dependency argues for more rigorous research into the…

A study used ethnographic methods to investigate the experience of gay and bisexual male college students from the perspective of subculture. Subjects (32 undergraduate and eight graduate students at a research university) were interviewed by telephone. Four students are profiled, and commonalities in their experiences and points of tension (gay…

Examines the literature on group instruction that provides the foundation for instructional models proposed by recognized authorities in the field and based on professional association standards. Suggests ways both for translating this knowledge into effective training strategies and for maximizing instruction at the university level. (RJM)

A study examined how 28 components of Outward Bound Western Canada (OBWC) courses affected student self-concept, motivation, and interpersonal skills. Data from questionnaires, interviews, and observations of 92 OBWC students generally supported previous research, but also indicated that the objectives of compassion and service received less…