Describes two studies showing that young readers may have trouble with comprehension when text contradicts their own prior knowledge. (FL)

This study examined the efficacy and outcomes expectancy of elementary preservice teachers related to using a WebQuest strategy to develop inquiry skills among elementary students. The findings of this study show that students in the experimental section of a group of preservice elementary teachers enrolled in a science methods course demonstrated…

The components of complex domains have dynamic, interdependent relationships that are often unstable. A useful method for representing relationships among elements in complex systems is causal influence diagramming, often described as concept mapping. This study employs the use of software applications, traditional assessment, and case studies to…

This paper considers whether or not curriculum initiatives within England are in fact leading to qualitatively improved levels of thinking among children identified as lower achievers in arithmetic. Revisiting data from two earlier studies and introducing current data, the paper draws comparisons in the strategies that 8-year-old children use to…

Self-regulated learning is a relatively new construct in the domain of educational psychology but its theoretical relevance and important practical implications have already been well established. The study explored the extent to which the self-regulated learning strategies of metacognition, elaboration, critical thinking, organization, rehearsal,…

The undergraduate curriculum in differential equations has undergone important changes in favor of the visual and numerical aspects of the course primarily because of recent technological advances. Yet, research findings that have analyzed students' thinking and understanding in a reformed setting are still lacking. This paper discusses an ongoing…

Articles focus on the following: reading comprehension and writing; an approach to argumentative discourse writing; a didactic experiment on the construction of two academic texts; Denzil Romero's work; communication and its implication--a vision from the teaching of the mother tongue; orthography/spelling in the Real Academia Espanola (RAE)…

This paper suggests a three-step approach for motivating and enabling eighth graders to authentically attempt to comprehend assigned passages from their U.S. history textbooks. The steps are the following: (1) attempt to activate prior knowledge and interest in textual readings by using relevant materials and varied literary sources to motivate…

This paper considers what physics can offer students, both as physics majors and in other sciences. The recent increases in the technological character of the workplace appear likely to continue, leading to increasing numbers of individuals who should learn something about science. For many of these people, understanding the character of science,…

This guide aims to document the resources available to educators who work with struggling secondary readers--readers who struggle in general education and reading classes, grades 6 through 12. With the goal of building a guide to resources, the scholarly literature was reviewed to determine: (1) current theoretical perspectives and research…

Photographs and text present highlights in the work of three teachers and one teaching team honored by TeachEach, a Northern California privately supported program to recognize and award K-12 teachers or teaching teams who teach and reach all the students in their classrooms. Quotes from the honorees and photographs showing the teachers in action…

In an information-intensive age, education is mandated to respond to two complementary demands: It has to transmit an increasing amount of constantly evolving knowledge and know-how adapted to a knowledge-driven civilization, and it has to enable learners not to be overwhelmed by the flows of information, while keeping personal and social…

Immigrant students in secondary schools face a number of obstacles as they make the transition to schooling in the United States. In addition to adjusting to a new country and school system, they must also learn academic content in a new language. Because these students come from a variety of ethnic, educational, and economic backgrounds,…

Reflection involves active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or practice. It promotes understanding of underlying beliefs and application of new knowledge to new situations. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) provides the instructional mechanisms for prompting learner reflective thinking. Research questions for this study were: (1)…

To prepare diverse learners for various roles in life, teachers should develop contextualized learning environments that enable students to develop individual skills while contributing to the knowledge of the classroom community. This is accomplished by integrating various subject matter domains with interdisciplinary themes that incorporate…