Extensive empirical research has documented the value of play for both cognitive and social development. In this collection, leading experts in play research, child development, and early childhood education examine recent policy decisions and demonstrate the importance of play in helping children learn basic literacy skills, social awareness,…

This document provides an introduction to the relationship between the current knowledge of focused and creative thinking and artificial intelligence. A model for stages of focused and creative thinking gives: problem encounter/setting, preparation, concentration/incubation, clarification/generation and evaluation/judgment. While a computer can…

Dialogical drama with puppets is a specific method of revealing basic cultural values for preschool children. For this study, an interactive performance of a puppet show for young children was videotaped, along with a later performance of the same show by the children. The study compared the techniques used by the adult performers and the children…

The principal is the educational leader of the school and he or she needs to guide teachers in using quality learning opportunities for pupils to achieve objectives. The reading curriculum cuts across all curriculum areas and needs updating continuously to assist pupils to achieve as well as possible. In supervising reading instruction, there are…

One of the greatest challenges for teacher leaders can be working with Reading Recovery teachers in continuing contact in ways that build upon and extend their understandings. Continuing contact sessions for experienced Reading Recovery teachers differ from the initial training experience, and activities in these sessions should foster teacher…

This paper discusses George Kelly's theories concerning ways that individuals build personal constructs of reality to interpret their experiences and illustrates how these theories could apply to science education. Teachers should encourage students to express their personal constructs; views of students and teachers should be respected. (PP)

The effects of different models of exploration questioning on young children's associative fluency were examined in two experiments with kindergarteners. It is concluded that asking descriptive and difference exploration questions are most facilitative of children's associative fluency. (Author/SEW)

Eleven specific thinking skills are discussed, along with activities to help teachers develop each skill in their students. The skills are: (1) observing; (2) comparing; (3) classifying; (4) imagining; (5) hypothesizing; (6) looking for assumptions; (7) collecting and organizing data; (8) summarizing; (9) interpreting; (10) problem solving; and…

Outlines a method to help students through the beginning phases of writing that will also show them the vital relationship between observation and creation. (RL)

The author outlines thinking skills he feels are critical for students to learn for the present and the future. He includes a rating scale to help teachers evaluate how well they are promoting these thinking skills in their classrooms. (Part of a theme issue on the future in education.) (SJL)

In order for graduate programs to be considered genuine, four conditions need to be met: academic quality, time to fiddle, a baggy idea of truth, and a sense of community. (JN)

Project development activities centered on the components of teacher in-service, classroom activities, curriculum materials, parent/community involvement, and student evaluation. After three years of operation, test scores showed increasingly superior performance in creative thinking on the part of the students. (DLS)

Current methods of introducing creativity techniques in industrial training courses can be modified to increase the amount of personalized learning, according to the authors. They offer a framework for a new approach to creativity training in short courses and workshops, with both in-house and business school examples. (MF)

This study examined two neglected dispositional contributions to creativity, needs for uniqueness and cognition, in 150 undergraduates. Results indicated individuals high in the needs of uniqueness and cognition evidenced more creative past accomplishments and produced richer visual and verbal products, more individualistic photo essays, and more…

Reports on a pilot study that investigated the creative impact of information and communication technology (ICT) in a grade 6 class in England. Presents a model of creativity that includes problem solving, creative cognition, and social interaction; and discusses the creation of personal Web pages. (Author/LRW)