Based on observations of more than 50 Japanese preschool and elementary classrooms over a 14-year period, this book offers a fresh perspective on how children become eager, motivated learners and caring responsible citizens. In a sharp departure from most previous accounts, this book suggests that Japanese education succeeds because all…

This book provides parents with guidelines on how to determine if their children are unusually gifted and how to prepare them for school. Recommendations are provided to ensure that gifted children are sufficiently challenged in the classroom, while reducing emotional stresses to which intellectually gifted children are often prone. Specific…

Considerable attention has been given recently to how children educate each other and how to maximize the cognitive benefits of peer learning. Based on papers presented at a 1996 symposium on Cognitive Skills and Learning with Peers, this book focuses on peer learning. Part 1 presents implications of Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories. Part 2…

This early childhood curriculum (ages 3-6) uses games, music, art, drama, and storytelling to teach young children effective, nonviolent ways to resolve conflicts and provides caregivers with tools for helping young children develop key conflict resolution skills. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 provides guidance in assessing the…

Noting that half of America's adolescents are at risk for serious problems such as substance abuse, accident-prone lifestyles, and delinquent behavior, this book explores the world of adolescents through the study of eight middle-school and high-school students from Reston, Virginia. These eight teenagers were selected based on gender, ethnicity,…

This resource guide provides field-tested, research-based strategies for including young children with disabilities in early childhood programs. It is designed to help preservice and in-service educators, Head Start personnel, and child care providers with information to promote inclusion in children's earliest social and educational experiences.…

This manual contains materials for a course designed to enable Nashville high school students to develop peer relationships while acting as peer buddies and positive role models for students with special needs. Information is provided on various types of disabilities and learning problems, instructional techniques for students with disabilities,…

Argues that computers in early childhood classrooms serve to raise young children's self-esteem, self-concept, and place in the classroom community. Provides examples of specific computer exercises including storytelling, journals, autobiographies, classroom data collection and recording, and classroom activities. Notes that these computer…

This study explored six dimensions of classroom environment in high school writing classes that used different instructional strategies (communicative instruction within a technological environment and traditional instruction). Surveys of student perceptions indicated that each dimension contributed unique information regarding differences, or…

Reviews two software packages: "Teacher's Toolbox," a classroom management package that includes student database construction, seat assignment, and grade recording; "PrintPaks," a package of four multimedia craft kits for students. Also reviews "Prevent Violence with Groark," a set of five videos addressing anger…

In an interview, the president of the National Education Association (NEA) discusses issues in higher education, including the NEA's role, relationships between higher education and elementary-secondary education, professionalism and the union, technological advancement, the role of postsecondary education, allocation of educational resources,…

A support group formed by three deans of social work schools and sustained over a seven-year period of change for each institution helped each dean address issues in organizational change. Agenda topics included tenure and promotion, selecting senior administrators, dealing with faculty conflict, managing budgets, responding to student concerns,…

Compared the involvement of black males and females in delinquency and examined the explanatory value of variables drawn from three traditional theories of delinquency (social control, structural strain, and differential association) for understanding delinquency among blacks. Results show that only two variables, attachment to school and…

Describes ways in which regular elementary classroom teachers can teach social skills and address classroom relationships to facilitate social integration of mildly handicapped students into the mainstream. Recommends a directive instructions method for correcting students' social skills problems. Notes steps teachers can take to increase the…

A study using structured interviews assessed views of 46 poor single-mother college students concerning factors in their academic success. The study identified four social support factors (support of other students, family, faculty, and university services) and four psychological belief factors (personal ambition, effort/discipline, prior…