Teacher knowledge is examined as a joint construction of teachers and researchers by analyzing contrasting narrative practices in the research interview in terms of how two teachers formulate versions of self. Seeing the narratives as representational technologies locates these teachers differently in the knowledge-constitutive networks of…

A study interviewed 6 grade-6 students after participation in 21 lessons on basic concepts of fractions and decimals to determine how different children construct rational number concepts. Discussed the formation of the key concept of equivalent fractions based on student responses to interview questions. (MDH)

Interviews Marian Wright Edelman about her work with the Children's Defense Fund and her book "The Measure of Our Success." The importance of having a sense that the world can be better is emphasized. Children must be given a voice and a way to participate in solving society's problems. (SLD)

Examines, in a qualitative study, the role of mandated tests on elementary schools, describing in particular their emotional impact on teachers, who may suffer sanctions or loss of autonomy based on low test scores. Describes some of the curricular and methodological effects of standardized testing. (CJS)

The effects of educational reform policies in Texas were studied as they relate to teacher burnout. A survey was mailed to 3,000 teachers. In all, 700 teachers responded, and interviews were conducted with about 120 of them. Teachers experienced considerable emotional exhaustion, and the effects of paperwork were significant. (SLD)

Studied development of moral reasoning in friendship conflicts by interviewing 120 children, ages 7, 9, and 12, using a moral dilemma narrative. Selected four issues to represent the levels of sociomoral reasoning. Showed sociomoral reasoning development is sequential and cumulative. Identified how commitment and responsibility progress in…

Describes the administration of Dialogues about Families, a set of 3 developmentally sensitive instruments designed to probe children's perceptions of their families and themselves through interactive dialogues, to several hundred 6 to 12 year olds. Suggests that the instruments be used to augment findings derived from parental reports and…

Interviews with and observation of six behaviorally disordered aggressive adolescents revealed that students perceived teachers as helpful when they engaged in specific aspects of teacher-student communication and flexible academic and behavioral program implementation. They perceived teachers' rigidity and use of discipline as unhelpful. Student…

Researchers assessed the ability of third and fifth graders to recall and report types and amounts of physical activity from the previous day. The study assessed the validity of the Caltrac electronic accelerometer as a field measure of physical activity. Children's reported physical activity minutes were higher than monitored minutes. (SM)

Evolution of the intensive summer oral language proficiency institutes held at the University of Texas at El Paso, beginning in 1984, is discussed. Benefits for participants, including knowledge gained about language testing and improved personal language skills, are noted, and areas for further consideration or improvement in the program are…

An interview method for assessing reading processes was pilot tested to examine reader-text interaction among native-Spanish-speaking fifth graders. Subjects were active participants in the reading situation but were lacking in aspects related to the text's cultural content. The reading interview method is highly recommended for use in…

Explores the childhood and adolescence of the Hispanic American poet Luis Rodriguez, who grew up in Los Angeles (California) and was involved in gangs with other children of Mexican immigrants. Rodriguez's autobiography is offered so that adolescents, including his own son, may learn from his experience. (SLD)

Data from 95 educationally disadvantaged Hong Kong students placed in mastery-learning classes were compared with 64 control students in expository-learning classes. Results indicate that under mastery learning, deep- and surface-biased learners increasingly diverge in performance and attitude, with surface learners doing better unit to unit, and…

Citing examples from a study of more than 600 elementary school students, this paper focuses on the importance of assessing children's understanding of disease processes rather than accepting their use of key phrases in appropriate contexts as reflecting knowledge. Includes guidelines for assessing how well children understand disease processes.…

Explores mentoring functions that senior women provided to juniors in academe, and identifies limitations on female mentoring. Interviews with 24 women in administrative positions indicate that senior women favor career mentoring and provide less psychosocial support. Recommendations are made for academic institutions interested in using mentoring…